New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga exited his first start of the season with a left calf strain, the club announced Friday.
Senga seemed in pain while grabbing his left leg as he chased a pop-up in the sixth inning against the Atlanta Braves. The 31-year-old was making his 2024 debut after missing the first half of the season with a shoulder injury.
Senga was sharp before sustaining the injury, allowing a pair of runs on two hits with one walk and nine strikeouts. He averaged 95.8 mph on his fastball and racked up 12 swinging strikes, including five with his patented forkball.
Senga will undergo an MRI on Saturday, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said postgame, adding that the club is confident it’s just a strain rather than a more serious injury.
“Hopefully, it’s not too serious,” Mendoza said, per MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo. “But they can be tricky.”
Senga is in the second season of a five-year, $75-million contract. He had an excellent debut campaign in 2023, making the All-Star Game and finishing runner-up in NL Rookie of the Year voting.
