Kodai Senga won’t return to the Mets during the regular season following his abbreviated rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Syracuse.
The right-hander threw only 15 pitches in the start because of triceps tightness, according to manager Carlos Mendoza, ending any possibility he would rejoin the Mets in a limited capacity this week.
The Mets were hopeful Senga might pitch in Milwaukee, either as an opener or reliever, during the final series of the regular season.
Senga will continue throwing, but it’s unclear what kind of timeline he is facing for a return and whether the Mets would consider him an option for October (provided the team reaches the postseason) at some point.
“Hopefully we’re making those decisions, right?” Mendoza said before the Mets beat the Phillies, 2-1, on Sunday. “But I think it’s safe to say that for the regular season he’s not going to be a player for us … we’re not going to put him in a major league game until he clears all the steps.”
Senga has spent the last two months rehabbing from a left calf strain that he sustained during his season debut on July 26.
Senga was diagnosed with a shoulder strain early in spring training that placed him on the injured list to begin the season.
During his buildup, the right-hander also had triceps tightness that delayed his schedule — he didn’t begin pitching in minor league rehab games until late June.
“It’s been a hard year for him and you feel for him,” Mendoza said. “Every time he’s pushing and wants to take the baseball, he is dealing with something. Hopefully this is nothing serious, but it’s going to set him back a little as far as game competition.
The Francisco Lindor watch reached a full week on Sunday with the shortstop’s exclusion from the Mets starting lineup for a seventh straight game.
Lindor, who is dealing with lower back soreness, took grounders and swings in the batting cage before the game.
Lindor said he was pleased with his workout and remains “optimistic” he will return this season.
Lindor said he still has to run bases and ideally would like to face live pitching before he can return to the lineup.
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Luis Severino, David Peterson and Sean Manaea will be the Mets starting pitchers for the three games in Atlanta, according to Mendoza.
Jose Quintana will start Friday’s series opener in Milwaukee.
