Kodai Senga: Everything you need to know

The Mets placed Senga on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, retroactive to April 27, due to lumbar spine inflammation. The right-hander has begun the season 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA through his first five starts, and he lasted just 2.2 frames during his last outing Sunday versus Colorado. According to Laura Albanese of Newsday, Senga received an epidural and will be shut down from throwing for at least 7-to-10 days. Once healthy and built back up, the Mets are likely to send Senga on what could be a lengthy rehab assignment to try and get him back on track. Christian Scott is poised to claim the open rotation spot after recalled from Triple-A Syracuse.

Senga (0-4) took the loss in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader versus the Rockies. He allowed three runs on three hits and three walks while striking out one over 2.2 innings. Senga was pulled in the third inning. He allowed a two-run home run to Hunter Goodman in that frame and put more traffic on the bases before Carl Edwards was brought in for mop-up duty. Senga landed 30 of 50 pitches for strikes in this outing, but he continues to struggle -- this was his third straight start that lasted less than four innings, and he's given up five homers in that span. For the season, he has a 9.00 ERA, 1.95 WHIP and 23:13 K:BB across 20 innings over five starts. Senga is tentatively projected to make his next start against the Angels, but it's unclear how much longer the Mets will tolerate his struggles on the mound, as it already looks like he's operating on a short leash.

Senga will start the second game of Sunday's doubleheader versus Colorado, Mike Puma of the New York Post reports. Senga was originally scheduled to start Saturday, but the game was postponed due to rain. Fantasy managers in weekly leagues who have Senga in their lineup won't lose a start, however, as the right-hander is slated to pitch in the second game of a doubleheader Sunday. Nolan McLean will make his regularly scheduled start in the matinee.