As the Mets make their final push to reach the postseason, Kodai Senga said he thinks there’s still a chance he could be back during the final week of the regular season.
Senga, who has been sidelined since he suffered a high-grade calf strain in his lone start for the Mets this season on July 26, said Monday at Citi Field he believes he’ll be able to pitch for the team in some capacity when he’s eligible to come off the injured list on Sept. 25.
And that includes pitching out of the bullpen, since he won’t be able to build up to being a starting pitcher by then due to the calendars.
“I’m open to anything,” Senga said through an interpreter.
Speaking prior to the start of the Red Sox-Mets series, Senga elaborated.
“Given where we are in the season, realistically, am I going to be able to pitch five or six innings as a starter? Probably not,” he said. “Whether they use me as a starter or in the bullpen is up to them. I just want to be able to throw as many innings as possible for the team.”
Senga’s availability will also depend on whether the Mets remain in contention for a wild-card spot if and when he’s ready to come back.
The Mets entered Monday a season-high nine games over .500 and one game back of Atlanta for the last NL wild-card spot after a 7-3 road trip.
Senga is still getting his calf back to full health and did agility drills Monday — and Carlos Mendoza said he was able to play catch off a mound Sunday.
Mendoza added that based on his conversations with Senga and the team’s trainers, a Senga return is possible prior to the postseason.
“Now, as I sit here, yes,” the manager said. “Talking to him and some of the trainers and watching him play catch, I’m optimistic.”
Senga continues to rehab his calf, but said it’s already feeling good.
If he is able to take the mound for the Mets, they would have to determine a role, which is an issue Mendoza hopes to have in a few weeks.
“If that guy is healthy, anyway we can use him — whether as a starter or on a pitch count or out of the bullpen, those are some of the conversations we’re gonna have with him,” Mendoza said. “The biggest thing is we’ve got to get him back to feeling 100 percent healthy and ready to help us win baseball games. If he’s 100 percent, he will.”
And Mendoza added when it comes to Senga, “Everything’s on the table.”
For a pitcher who was expected to start about once a week in an attempt to preserve his health and then missed the first half of the season due to a shoulder capsule strain, it would seem unlikely the Mets would be overly aggressive with his usage, even in the playoffs.
But Mendoza wouldn’t rule anything out.
“One thing we know is he is willing to do whatever it takes, especially that time of year, when every pitch, every game [is important],” Mendoza said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we used him in any type of role.”
So far this season, the 31-year-old, who is in the second year of a five-year, $75 million deal and emerged as the team’s ace last season, has only pitched 5 ¹/₃ innings in the majors.
“The word that most accurately describes this season is ‘tough,’ ” Senga said. “It has been disappointing to not be out there.”
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