Mets' Kodai Senga problem not going away

The New York Mets may not have pitcher Kodai Senga back for some time.

Steve Gelbs from SNY reported that Senga will not make his scheduled rehab start on Tuesday due to ulnar nerve irritation in his upper right arm. Senga had originally been placed on the Injured List on April 28 due to lumbar spine inflammation.

Senga had struggled during his previous rehab appearances, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 14 hits and five walks over his 12 innings, striking out 12 while hitting three batters. Although Senga had built up to 91 pitches in his last outing, he hardly appeared to be ready to rejoin the Mets rotation.

New York Mets cannot count on Kodai Senga at this point

The Mets desperately need another stabilizing arm in their rotation. Senga had been that pitcher as he posted a 2.98 ERA and a 1.220 WHIP over his 166.1 innings during his All-Star season in 2023, striking out 202 batters with 77 walks. 

Injuries have been a constant issue for Senga since his first year in the majors. He missed most of the 2024 season due to a strained right shoulder and a left calf strain, making just one start at the end of the season. His promising 2025 season was derailed by a strained hamstring as he was ineffective in his return from the IL.

The 2026 season has been more of the same. Senga had a pair of solid starts to begin the year before struggling over his last three outings. He has posted a 9.00 ERA and a 1.950 WHIP over his 20 innings, striking out 23 batters with 13 walks. He is not close to being the pitcher he was in 2023.

That is a problem for the Mets. Senga is under contract through 2027 at $15 million a year. His injuries and ineffectiveness have made him a question mark for the club going forward. At this point, the Mets can no longer count on Senga to be a part of their pitching staff.