MLB insider shares worrisome update on Mets' Kodai Senga

The New York Post's Joel Sherman offered a concerning prediction regarding Mets starter Kodai Senga's return to the mound after the 2023 All-Star began the campaign on the injured list due to a moderate capsule strain in the back of his right shoulder.

"Am I concerned about Kodai Senga’s health? Yes, because it is a shoulder capsule, and the history of injuries to that body part is particularly worrisome for a pitcher. The Mets have slow-played his rehab in a way to scream what they will not say out loud about their level of concern," Sherman explained. 

Sherman added that he'd "be surprised" if Senga is part of the Mets' rotation "before mid-June." New York already had to place starter Tylor Megill on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain after he took a loss on Sunday. 

Senga was set to begin the season as New York's No. 1 option after the club failed to sign Japanese ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto in free agency and after trading Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer last summer. The Amazins dropped their first four games before Tuesday's home contest vs. the undefeated Detroit Tigers was rained out. 

According to ESPN stats, the Mets began Wednesday ranked 28th in MLB with a .188 team batting average. New York is also last in the league with eight total runs scored. 

While having Senga wouldn't wake up New York's bats, Manny Gómez of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com noted it's worrisome that it remains unclear when the 31-year-old will toe the rubber.

"...This is something that’s still fluid," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters on Tuesday. "We will continue to reassess every time [Senga] throws. He’s off [Tuesday] with the trainers getting treatment and getting checked out. Slowly in the right direction." 

It's difficult to imagine the Mets competing for anything meaningful if Sherman is right about Senga remaining sidelined through the entire spring. New York will try to stop the bleeding whenever the weather allows the club to play, but forecasts for Wednesday night's game at Citi Field weren't promising.