Kodai Senga’s latest rehab start goes well as Mets righty works back with Double-A Binghamton

The New York Mets’ top-line starter Kodai Senga continued his rehab progress on Thursday, pitching six innings and striking out five batters in his latest assignment with Double-A Binghamton. The outing was the most recent step in a return plan that has already included adjustments along the way, following a brief setback in the days leading up to the start.

According to Yahoo Sports, Senga’s rehab timeline included being scratched earlier in the week due to elbow discomfort. He ultimately made the planned start with Binghamton, working through the session in a way that suggested the Mets were able to keep his workload moving forward after the early-week concern.

Senga’s appearance was also described as his fourth rehab start. That matters because rehab assignments are usually built to gradually increase both pitch volume and intensity, with the organization balancing development and health considerations. For a pitcher whose role is tied directly to the Mets’ rotation stability, each rehab start is more than a box-score exercise, it is a test of durability and arm responsiveness.

In the Binghamton game, Senga’s ability to get through six innings showed he was not limited immediately by discomfort. Striking out five also reinforced that, at least in the context of this outing, his pitching command and swing-and-miss elements were functioning well enough to miss bats without obvious restrictions.

While the Mets have their own internal medical framework, Yahoo Sports’ report also references Senga being placed on the injured list for lumbar spine inflammation. That detail adds an important layer to how Mets fans should interpret the rehab process: the pathway back from back inflammation can involve careful handling of mechanics and lower-body load, and changes in how a pitcher feels can show up as discomfort elsewhere as the body adapts.

Thursday’s start, then, fits a common rehab pattern in modern baseball. Even when a pitcher is cleared to throw, teams often monitor how the arm and body respond in successive outings, particularly for starters coming back from more than one physical issue. The elbow discomfort earlier in the week, followed by a full six-inning outing, suggests the Mets viewed Thursday as a meaningful checkpoint.

For the Mets, the immediate watch item is not just whether Senga can pitch, but whether he can build to his next step in the process. Rehab assignments tend to progress through higher-competition levels and typically culminate in a return to the majors once the pitcher can demonstrate sustained effectiveness across a longer workload. With a starter of Senga’s profile, the organization will likely keep the plan conservative until it is confident his body can handle the demands of his normal routine.

For Binghamton and its fans, Senga’s outing highlights the practical value of having a big-league prospect or veteran on a staged rehab assignment. Double-A games offer a higher intensity than informal bullpen work, giving coaches a chance to evaluate how a pitcher sequences pitches against more mature hitters while still within an injury-managed framework.