The New York Mets are facing a setback as their ace pitcher, Kodai Senga, is set to miss Opening Day due to a moderate strain in his right shoulder. The team president of baseball operations, David Stearns, confirmed that Senga has been diagnosed with a moderate posterior capsule strain in his shoulder after experiencing fatigue following a bullpen session. Senga has been shut down from throwing and is expected to start the season on the injured list.

Stearns mentioned that while Senga is not likely to be ready for Opening Day, he is optimistic that Senga will make a significant number of starts during the season. The Mets are now looking towards their rotation depth, with Tylor Megill, Jose Butto, and Joey Lucchesi being the primary candidates to fill in for Senga at the start of the season.

Despite the availability of free-agent starting pitchers like Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, Stearns downplayed the possibility of seeking external replacements for Senga. Senga, who signed a five-year contract worth $75 million last season, had an impressive performance, finishing second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting with 202 strikeouts over 166 1/3 innings and a 2.98 ERA.

The Mets have faced injury challenges in past seasons, with players like Edwin Diaz, Jose Quintana, and Jacob deGrom encountering health issues during spring training. Senga's absence will test the team's pitching depth early in the season as they strive to navigate this setback and compete in the upcoming games.