Paul Blackburn set for return to ‘comfort zone' as Kodai Senga officially hits injured list
Access the Mets beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free
The severity of Kodai Senga's right hamstring injury was still unclear to Mets officials late Friday afternoon, but the team had already moved ahead in filling his rotation spot.
Paul Blackburn, the team's de facto sixth starter, will shift from the bullpen to start Wednesday in Atlanta, according to manager Carlos Mendoza.
Senga's absence will mark the first missed start by one of the five starters who began the season in the Mets' rotation.
Senga strained his right hamstring Thursday covering first base and a day later was placed on the injured list, with reliever Max Kranick recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.
4 Kodai Senga injured his hamstring during the Mets' game against the Nationals on June 12.
Jason Szenes for the NY Post
Senga was set for a late afternoon MRI exam before the Mets' series opener against the Rays at Citi Field.
Blackburn, who had last pitched Sunday in Colorado — where he recorded a four-inning save — was available from the bullpen for the series opener.
Mendoza said Blackburn, if he wasn't used Friday, could potentially be available in relief Saturday, but not beyond that as he rests for his scheduled start.
4 Kodai Senga reacts after injuring his hamstring during the Mets' win June 12.
Jason Szenes for the NY Post
4 Paul Blackburn reacts during his start against the Dodgers on June 2.
Getty Images
Blackburn said it 'sucks' to have lost Senga, given the manner in which the right-hander was pitching — he leads MLB with a 1.47 ERA in 13 starts — but Blackburn appreciates the opportunity to rejoin the rotation.
'That is kind of where my comfort zone lies,' Blackburn told The Post. 'It is what I have done my whole career. I have my whole routine set for that.'
Blackburn returned from the injured list to start against the Dodgers on June 2, when he pitched five scoreless innings as part of a six-man rotation.
Blackburn was placed in the bullpen after that outing.
'Every team will go through [injuries], but I feel we are equipped to handle it,' manager Carlos Mendoza said. 'We have already got a guy like [Blackburn] on the active roster and we have got more guys that are close to joining the team.'
On the forefront is Frankie Montas, who allowed eight earned runs over 1 2/3 innings for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday in a minor league rehab start.
Montas, according to president of baseball operations David Stearns, will need an additional appearance in the minors before a decision is reached on activating him.
4 Paul Blackburn throws a pitch during his start against the Dodgers on June 2.
Imagn Images
Montas, who is rehabbing a high-grade lat strain, has pitched poorly in all three of his starts for Syracuse.
CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND METS STATS
'I think he is still feeling his way back,' Stearns said. 'This was a pretty significant lat injury. He did a good job working through his progression and I think he is still searching a little bit. Physically, we are trending in the right direction and now it's just getting him back into the rhythm. This is very similar to a spring training ramp up where you try not to focus on results too much early and then as you get a little bit later in the ramp up you want to start seeing outs. That is where Frankie is right now.'
Sean Manaea is further behind.
The left-hander's initial rehab appearance from an oblique strain was earlier in the week for Single-A Brooklyn.
Stearns downplayed the idea the Mets may soon have too many rotation options.
Clay Holmes, David Peterson and Griffin Canning have all excelled and Tylor Megill has pitched well enough to remain in the rotation.
'It's very rare where you actually get to the point where you have too many starting pitchers that you can roster,' Stearns said. 'If somehow, at some point, we get to that this season I will have to make some decisions and I imagine those would be difficult decisions, but for now I am very happy with how this group that we've had to this point has pitched. I am excited we continue to get healthier and get guys like Frankie and then ultimately Sean back in the rotation. I think that will make us stronger. Certainly deeper.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC Sports
an hour ago
- NBC Sports
Braves place reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale on injured list with fractured rib cage
MIAMI — The Atlanta Braves placed reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale on the 15-day injured list Saturday because of a fractured left rib cage. 'He was doing his exercises (Friday) and felt like something wasn't right,' manager Brian Snitker said before the Braves' game Saturday against the Miami Marlins. 'So they had him looked at and it showed what it showed.' In his previous start, against the New York Mets on Wednesday, Sale sprinted off the mound and made a diving stop of a grounder hit by Juan Soto and threw him out for the first out in the ninth. He then struck out Pete Alonso and was lifted after allowing a single to Brandon Nimmo. 'It's just a freak thing. An unfortunate thing,' Snitker said. 'I saw him after the game that night and he was doing his postgame workout. And then I saw him the next day and I think he maybe felt a little uncomfortable the next day. But then (Friday) is when he wanted to get it checked out.' Sale is 5-4 and has a 2.52 ERA through 15 starts this season. The 36-year-old left-hander threw a season-high 116 pitches and 8 2/3 innings against the Mets. 'It's a tough blow for us and him,' Snitker said. 'It was going so good. That's a rough one.' After six seasons with the Boston Red Sox, Sale was traded to the Braves in December 2023. Sale won the pitching Triple Crown in his first season in Atlanta, finishing with an NL high in wins (18) and strikeouts (225) and a league-low ERA of 2.38. Snitker doesn't have a timeline when his star pitcher will return. 'With bones like that, they've got to heal before you can start the process, but I have no idea how long it will be,' he said. The Braves began Saturday at 34-40 and 11 games behind NL East-leading Philadelphia. They had won six of seven, including a three-game series sweep against the Mets, before losing the series opener at Miami on Friday. In the corresponding move retroactive to Thursday, the Braves recalled left-handed pitcher Austin Cox from Triple-A Gwinnett.
Chicago Tribune
an hour ago
- Chicago Tribune
Atlanta Braves place reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale on injured list with fractured rib cage
MIAMI — The Atlanta Braves placed reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale on the 15-day injured list Saturday because of a fractured left rib cage. 'He was doing his exercises (Friday) and felt like something wasn't right,' manager Brian Snitker said before the Braves' game Saturday against the Miami Marlins. 'So they had him looked at and it showed what it showed.' In his previous start, against the New York Mets on Wednesday, Sale sprinted off the mound and made a diving stop of a Juan Soto grounder and threw him out for the first out in the ninth. He then struck out Pete Alonso and was lifted after allowing a single to Brandon Nimmo. 'It's just a freak thing. An unfortunate thing,' Snitker said. 'I saw him after the game that night and he was doing his postgame workout. And then I saw him the next day and I think he maybe felt a little uncomfortable the next day. But then (Friday) is when he wanted to get it checked out.' Sale is 5-4 and has a 2.52 ERA through 15 starts. The 36-year-old left-hander threw a season-high 116 pitches and 8 2/3 innings against the Mets. 'It's a tough blow for us and him,' Snitker said. 'It was going so good. That's a rough one.' After six seasons with the Boston Red Sox, Sale was traded to the Braves in December 2023. Sale won the pitching Triple Crown in his first season in Atlanta, finishing with an NL high in wins (18) and strikeouts (225) and a league-low ERA of 2.38. Snitker doesn't have a timeline when his star pitcher will return. 'With bones like that, they've got to heal before you can start the process, but I have no idea how long it will be,' he said. The Braves began Saturday at 34-40 and 11 games behind the NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies. They had won six of seven, including a three-game series sweep against the Mets, before losing the series opener in Miami on Friday.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Mets vs. Phillies MLB player props and odds - Saturday, June 21
Player prop betting options for Pete Alonso, Kyle Schwarber and others are available in the New York Mets-Philadelphia Phillies matchup at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday, starting at 7:15 p.m. ET. At +100, the Phillies are listed as the moneyline underdogs in this matchup against the Mets, who are -120. The over/under for this game has been set at 10.5. Watch Mets vs. Phillies on Fubo! New York Mets prop bets today For the Mets, Alonso has a triple slash line of .291/.386/.565 while cracking 18 home runs with 43 runs and 64 RBI in 334 plate appearances. He's striking out at a 21.9% clip and walking 10.8% of the time. Over 336 plate appearances, Juan Soto is hitting .246/.387/.455 this year, sporting a 15.8% K rate and an 18.8% walk rate. He's blasted 14 bombs with 52 runs scored and 37 RBI while adding eight steals. Philadelphia Phillies prop bets today The Phillies' Schwarber has slashed .242/.377/.531 this season, with 23 homers and 54 RBI, plus six steals on seven attempts. He has 54 runs scored, a strikeout rate of 25.5%, and a walk rate of 16.3%. This season Trea Turner has slashed .302/.359/.456, with nine home runs and 35 RBI. He has scored 52 runs, and has strikeout and walk rates of 15.9% and 7.2%, respectively. He also has swiped 19 bases on 24 attempts. Mets vs. Phillies how to watch, starters Watch Mets vs. Phillies on Fubo!
