Senga 'working [his] tail off' to return for Mets

NEW YORK -- Kodai Senga intends to pitch a tune-up inning at Triple-A Syracuse this weekend in advance of joining the Mets for at least part of their final road trip through Atlanta and Milwaukee, the injured pitcher said on Wednesday.

“I’ve been working my tail off and devoting all my time toward this,” Senga said through an interpreter. “I know that if this doesn’t go well, I’m just going to be in the dugout rooting for my teammates, so I need to make this work.”

While the details remain fluid, Senga tentatively plans to pitch at some point before the Triple-A season ends on Sunday. He will be eligible to return from the injured list a few days later on Sept. 25, though a Mets official cautioned that Senga is more likely to appear later in the week.

The Mets play the Braves from Sept. 24-26 before concluding their regular-season schedule against the Brewers from Sept. 27-29. Each of those games could be crucial in the National League Wild Card race.

“We’re a phenomenal team, and the vibes in there are amazing,” Senga said. “I need to do whatever it takes to get back out there at 100%, because what I can’t do is go back out there at less than 100% and bring the team down. I need to help the team win.”

Senga has made just one appearance this season, throwing 5 1/3 innings on July 26 before exiting due to a left calf strain. He’s been rehabbing the injury ever since.

Before that, Senga spent the entire first half of the season working his way back from a strained posterior right shoulder capsule and resulting complications. He has been deliberate in his rehab from both injuries, insisting on multiple occasions that he won’t return unless he’s at full strength.

“The one thing I’ve learned is you never know with him,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “There’s days when he feels really good, but then there’s also days where it’s like, ‘Maybe I need a day or two.’ I think we’ve just got to wait and listen to the player.

“I could see him going out there and throwing … on Saturday and saying, ‘I’m ready to go for one inning.’ But I could also [see him saying], ‘I need another week.’ I don’t want to put pressure on that. We just need a healthy player. And whenever that is, I’ll be happy to put his name in the lineup.”

When healthy, Senga has been a dynamic talent, throwing in the upper 90s with a near-unhittable split-fingered fastball as his primary out pitch. He used that combination to great effect last season, going 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA over 29 starts to establish himself as New York’s ace. But Senga has made only one start since.

On Wednesday, Senga gauged his health at around 70-80%, but said he’ll know more after letting things loose in a Minor League game.

Once Senga does return, the Mets are likely to use him as an opener ahead of one of their other starting pitchers since he won’t be stretched out beyond an inning or two. But that could change if the Mets make a deep playoff run, which would afford Senga extra time to condition himself for a full starter’s workload. Theoretically, he could rejoin the rotation in full by mid-October.

“Nothing’s changed on my end,” Senga said. “I’m ready to pitch whenever. If the team wants me as an opener, as a starter, from the bullpen -- whatever they need. I know the starters on this team have done an amazing job, and however the team wants me to pitch, I’m ready for it.”