Kodai Senga Out at Least Five Weeks for Mets

New York Mets ace Kodai Senga has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 hamstring strain and is expected to be sidelined for at least five weeks, with a possible return just before the All-Star break in mid-July. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza characterized the diagnosis as 'relatively good news' and stressed the importance of a careful and transparent rehabilitation process, referencing previous communication issues during Senga's rehab last year. Senga's absence presents a major setback for the Mets' pitching rotation, prompting consideration of internal options such as Paul Blackburn and Frankie Montas to fill the gap. The Mets are also reportedly exploring external reinforcements, including a trade for Baltimore Orioles starter Tomoyuki Sugano, to address pitching depth. Starter workloads, including that of Clay Holmes, are being closely managed to minimize overuse. Despite this challenge, the Mets remain optimistic about Senga's recovery and their competitiveness in the divisional race.