ATLANTA — The Mets made public Wednesday a decision that had been made within the organization long ago. Kodai Senga will definitely miss most of May and probably won’t pitch until June.
Because he needed to be on the 40-man roster, the Mets placed Chiga on the 60-day injured list, meaning the right-hander’s earliest return would be May 27.
The Mets used Chiga’s roster spot to select left-handed relief pitcher Tyler Jay from Triple-A Syracuse.
Chiga, who is undergoing rehabilitation from shoulder strain, is playing catch on the field, but he will have to seriously strengthen his skills by taking the mound, taking live batting practice, and pitching in minor league games.
“It’s not a setback. There’s nothing wrong with him,” coach Carlos Mendoza said after Wednesday’s game was postponed due to weather. “We knew it was going to take some time, but with him pitching in the flats and things like that, he hasn’t been on the mound yet, so it’s going to be a few weeks before we see him.”
Chiga was shut down early in spring training and did not start pitching again until the Mets suspended camp.
“We played slow from the beginning,” Mendoza said. “It took another two weeks for him to start playing catch in spring training, but it’s nothing new. It’s more like where we are and where he is.”
Jose Quintana is scheduled to start for the Mets in Thursday’s series finale against the Braves.
The left-handed pitcher’s game was postponed by one day after Wednesday’s weather postponement (replacement scheduled for Sept. 26).
Luis Severino and Sean Manaea are scheduled to start for the Mets against the Royals on Friday and Saturday.
Mendoza originally planned to use Saturday’s starting pitcher, likely Triple-A Syracuse’s Jose Butt, to replace Julio Teheran, who was designated following Monday’s start.
The postponement allows the Mets to refrain from adding a starting pitcher on Sunday, when Adrian Houser will get his normal rest, if they wish.
Mendoza said plans for Sunday are still under discussion.
The Mets welcomed the extra rest after playing 15 games in 14 days before the postponement.
“It’s a reset day for all of us,” said Mendoza, who has made wise decisions about using relief pitchers amid a busy schedule.
Mendoza said Sean Reid-Foley (shoulder impingement) has pitched bullpen sessions in recent days and could begin a rehab assignment in the minor leagues soon. The right-hander was placed on the IL two weeks ago with a shoulder impingement.
