Senga Nears Return, Pop Bolsters Mets’ Bullpen
Mets ace Kodai Senga made a rehab start on Saturday night with the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies against Hartford.
Senga allowed four runs, three earned, and six hits, striking out four and walking two in 3⅔ innings. The right-hander threw 44 of 68 pitches for strikes.
Senga, one of the Mets’ 13 pitchers on the injured list, could return to New York’s decimated rotation next weekend in Kansas City, just before the All-Star break.
Senga suffered a strain in his right hamstring while covering first base on June 12, and the Mets went on a 3-14 losing streak after that. He is 7-3 with a 1.47 ERA in 13 starts this season.
Earlier in the day, Zach Pop signed a one-year contract with the Mets and joined their bullpen before the Subway Series game against the Yankees.
The right wasn’t used since the Mets won 12-6, getting their fourth straight win.
Pop made four relief appearances with the Seattle Mariners in June before being designated for assignment last weekend. Instead of accepting a direct assignment to the minors, he opted for free agency on Wednesday.
Right-handed pitcher Austin Warren was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse after throwing 34 pitches in 1 1/3 innings of relief on Friday for the Mets during their 6-5 victory over the Yankees.
Right-handed pitcher Tyler Zuber was designated for assignment to clear a spot for Pop on the 40-man roster.
Pop allowed a run in 4⅓ innings in his first three starts with the Mariners, but then was punished with eight runs, seven earned, in one inning on June 26 in Minnesota. He allowed six hits, two walks, and two home runs in that game.
Pop, 28, grew up in Canada before going to college in Kentucky. He has an 8-5 record with an ERA of 4.75 and a save in 162 major league games over five seasons with Miami, Toronto, and Seattle.
In other news, right-handed opener Tylor Megill (elbow sprain) is starting to throw. Left-handed reliever Brooks Raley (Tommy John surgery) has been pitching well during his rehab assignment in the minors, but is not expected to return until after the All-Star break, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said.
