When Will Kodai Senga Return and Be Back? Fantasy Baseball Injury Update

Don't look now, but the New York Mets are only one game out of the National League Wild Card race as the second half of the season begins.

Without their ace pitcher for the first of the season, many people left the Mets for dead, but they're playing some pretty good baseball right now and are about to get some really good news.

That aforementioned ace pitcher, Kodai Senga, is nearing a return to their rotation and should give New York a much-needed shot in the arm.

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Kodai Senga Injury Update for Fantasy Baseball

It's been a frustrating 2024 campaign for the reigning runner-up for NL Rookie of the Year in 2023. Senga was set to anchor the Mets rotation this season, but suffered an injury in the preseason and then another setback during his recovery.

But the 31-year-old Japanese pitcher, and former star of the NPB, was finally able to get back on the mound in July, making one start at Single-A and another two starts at Triple-A Syracuse.

Carlos Mendoza says Kodai Senga will throw 80-85 pitches in a rehab outing for Triple-A Syracuse tomorrow.

If all goes well, Senga could rejoin the Mets during their home series against the Braves next weekend. pic.twitter.com/cHOM5PXL2d

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 19, 2024

He's looked fantastic in a small sample size so far, posting 12 strikeouts in 10 innings with a 0.90 ERA and 0.80 WHIP. If today's start goes well, then we should see him rejoin the Mets rotation next week.

Kodai Senga Fantasy Baseball Outlook

Last season, Senga showed off one of the best pitches in baseball - his trademark "ghost fork" which is a forkball/splitter than just drops entirely out of the strike zone at the last second.

196 Seconds of Swinging Strikeouts on Kodai Senga's Ghost Forks. 👻🍴

59.5% Whiff Rate in 2023.
[Opponents slugged just .147] pic.twitter.com/eAWtOgQTj6

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) December 24, 2023

He has good velocity on his fastball and a nice cutter that he throws in on lefties, too. Managers are drooling at the thought of getting Senga back on their teams as he's still rostered 72% of Yahoo leagues. He should be rostered in 100% of leagues, so if he happens to be available in your league for some reason, add him ASAP before other managers realize he's on the verge of returning.

If he can pitch at the same high level as last season, he'll be a huge help to fantasy rosters for the rest of this season.

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