The Mets' rotation depth has been tested considerably over the last month due to a laundry list of injuries, but a pair of valuable and dependable pitchers could make their awaited return to the mound just before the All-Star break arrives.
While the situation remains fluid, manager Carlos Mendoza said ahead of Saturday's game against the Yankees that the earliest injured starters Kodai Senga and Sean Manaea would be able to pitch in uniform again is next week's road series against the Royals, which begins on Friday.
Senga, who suffered a hamstring strain on June 13, is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton on Saturday. Mendoza said on Friday that the goal is for the right-hander to throw around 60 pitches, and if all goes well, he would be in line to rejoin the Mets' staff on normal rest.
As for Manaea — who's been sidelined all season due to elbow and oblique ailments — he's slated to make one more Double-A rehab start next Tuesday. The veteran left-hander received a cortisone shot last week after test results revealed a loose body in his elbow, but he's already been cleared to pitch.
The upcoming appearance with Binghamton will mark Manaea's sixth rehab outing, and he's expected to stretch out to 75-plus pitches. He last threw on Wednesday, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out three across three frames in Binghamton. Overall, he's pitched to a 6.00 ERA (15 innings).
Luckily for Senga, there's nothing wrong with his arm, and the Mets are equally excited to have him back in the fold. He's produced a stellar 2025 campaign thus far, with a pristine 1.47 ERA over 13 starts. He's also struck out 70 batters, while holding opponents to a .195 average.
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