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Senga hopeful for final weekend; Lindor still iffy

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1 year ago

September 21, 2024

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Jorge Castillo, ESPN Staff WriterSep 20, 2024, 07:18 PM ET
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NEW YORK — Kodai Senga‘s regular season might not be over quite yet.

The right-hander could rejoin the New York Mets soon for the final weekend of the regular season if he emerges healthy from an abbreviated Triple-A start Saturday, manager Carlos Mendoza said Friday before the Mets’ game against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Senga is scheduled to throw no more than two innings and 35 pitches for Syracuse, according to Mendoza. The earliest Senga would then return to pitch for the Mets is Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers to give him at least the standard four days’ rest between outings.

Senga would either return as a starter limited to 35-40 pitches or as a reliever. Mendoza said his potential role is undecided.

“Hopefully, we’re having those conversations,” said Mendoza, whose team began Friday with a two-game lead for the final National League wild-card playoff spot. “I got to talk to him. We just got to wait and see how he comes out of [Saturday]. And this is a guy that’s got a pretty special routine and he’s very meticulous about everything that he does. So he’s going to have a lot of say in this decision.”

A return next week would be ahead of schedule for Senga, who the Mets initially feared would sit out the rest of the regular season after he suffered a calf strain in his season debut on July 26. Senga suffered the injury running off the mound during an infield popup in the sixth inning of his first start of the season. He had held the Atlanta Braves to two runs and two hits with nine strikeouts in 5⅓ innings. That remains his only appearance for the Mets this season.

Senga was shut down because of a shoulder injury less than a week into spring training. An injury setback and his displeasure with mechanics extended his absence into the season’s second half, leaving the Mets without their projected No. 1 starter for four months.

Senga, 31, was runner-up for NL Rookie of the Year last season after posting a 2.98 ERA with 202 strikeouts in 166⅓ innings across 29 starts. He has never pitched out of the bullpen in the majors but has experience in the role from his time in Japan.

The Mets’ rotation, a flaw before the All-Star break, has become a strength over the course of the season without Senga. Entering Friday, Mets starters have posted a 3.36 ERA in the second half, fifth best in baseball. The group’s 4.23 ERA before the All-Star break was 22nd in the majors.

“I think before we put him in any major league competition, we’re going to make sure that we have confidence that he’s ready to go,” said David Stearns, Mets president of baseball operations. “And, frankly, most importantly, that he has confidence that he’s ready to go.”

Though Senga has a straightforward timeline for his return, Francisco Lindor‘s status is hazier. A lower back injury kept the shortstop out of the lineup for the fifth straight game Friday, though he took batting practice on the field for the first time since leaving Sunday’s game after one inning.

Mendoza said Lindor could theoretically return the day after resuming baseball activities, which opens the door for him to play Saturday against the first-place Phillies. That, however, seems unlikely for Lindor, who was Shohei Ohtani’s strongest competition for NL MVP before being sidelined.

“I think if we were in May maybe we’d give him an extra day, just a couple of days of him running the bases and him going through [workouts],” Mendoza said. “But the thing with him is he knows himself better than anybody. And when he can go, he’s going to let us know.”

The Mets had won four consecutive games without Lindor entering Friday. Would they play it safer with Lindor if they kept winning and created more room in this tight playoff race without him?

“He’s Francisco Lindor,” Mendoza said. “We’re talking about a potential MVP. When he says he’s ready to go, it doesn’t matter where we’re at, he’s in the lineup.”

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Follow live: Blue Jays host Yankees in Game 2 of ALDS

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24 mins ago

October 5, 2025

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Brewers CF Chourio’s status uncertain for Game 2

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25 mins ago

October 5, 2025

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Brewers CF Chourio's status uncertain for Game 2

Jesse RogersOct 5, 2025, 04:41 PM ET
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MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Brewers centerfielder Jackson Chourio‘s status for Game 2 of the NLDS against the Chicago Cubs on Monday is uncertain after an MRI on his right hamstring came back inconclusive, according to manager Pat Murphy.

Chourio, 21, left Game 1 on Saturday after legging out an infield hit in the bottom of the second inning. It’s the same hamstring he injured in July — also while playing against the Cubs — putting his immediate playing future in doubt.

“I can’t give you a definitive, but I know that we’re going to test some things today,” Murphy said on Sunday afternoon. “He’s going to be out there today. I don’t know that he’ll do much, but the MRI came back and it’s inconclusive and it’s not a serious hamstring strain, but it’s not necessarily something that won’t limit him.”

Chourio was 3 for 3 in the game before leaving. Murphy indicated rookie Isaac Collins would likely take Chourio’s place in the lineup if the latter player can’t go.

The Brewers manager also announced lefty Aaron Ashby will start Game 2 for his team, though he probably won’t last long after throwing 1⅓ innings on Saturday. He’s likely opening the game to help neutralize Cubs leadoff man Michael Busch — also a lefty — who homered to start Game 1.

“He could go as long as we want him to,” Murphy said of Ashby.

Righty Quinn Priester is likely the bulk innings guy for the Brewers after Ashby, but Murphy stopped short of declaring his plans. The Cubs are countering with lefty Shota Imanaga, who pitched in Game 2 of the wild-card round against the San Diego Padres.

“He’s a competitor,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “And I think he’s a thinking-man’s competitor, and he also pitches with a lot of joy on the mound, while competing at a really high level.”

Imanaga has a 5.73 ERA in four career games against the Brewers, including three starts this season.

“I think all the hitters, they understand what they need to do, and I think that’s the Brewers’ offense,” Imanaga said of his struggles against Milwaukee. “Even yesterday, just the next guy was up, the next guy was ready. So I think, for me, it’s just making sure, take it one out at a time, and then thinking about that one out.”

Murphy was asked about facing the second-year Cub who features a rising fastball and a sinking splitter.

“His heater plays way up,” Murphy said. “If it says 91, the hitter sees it as 95 to 96.”

Milwaukee won Game 1 in a route, 9-3.

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AP Week 6 poll reaction: What’s next for each Top 25 team

Published

2 hours ago

October 5, 2025

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AP Week 6 poll reaction: What's next for each Top 25 team

Oct 5, 2025, 02:25 PM ET

The latest AP poll is out. Most ranked teams held steady. The Ohio State Buckeyes stayed atop the poll after a convincing win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers, and the Miami Hurricanes bolstered their résumé with a win over the Florida State Seminoles. But both the No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions and then No. 9 Texas Longhorns were stunned by unranked opponents. (UCLA and Florida, respectively.)

What does it all mean for the AP Top 25? Let’s break down the rankings.

Stats courtesy of ESPN Research.

All times Eastern.

Previous ranking: 1

2025 record: 5-0

Week 6 result: Defeated Minnesota 42-3

Stat to know: Ohio State has allowed 25 total points this season. That is the fewest points allowed through five games by a Big Ten team since 1985 Michigan.

What’s next: Saturday at Illinois, noon, Fox

Previous ranking: 3

2025 record: 5-0

Week 6 result: Defeated Florida State 28-22

Stat to know: Miami has three straight wins against AP-ranked opponents within a season for the first time since 2004.

What’s next: Oct. 17 vs. Louisville, 7 p.m.

Previous ranking: 2

2025 record: 5-0

Week 6 result: Idle

What’s next: Saturday vs. Indiana, 3:30 p.m., CBS

Previous ranking: 4

2025 record: 5-0

Week 6 result: Idle

What’s next: Saturday vs. Washington State, 12:45 p.m., SEC Network

Previous ranking: 6

2025 record: 5-0

Week 6 result: Defeated Mississippi State 31-9

Stat to know: This is Texas A&M’s first 5-0 start since 2016.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Florida, 7 p.m., ESPN

Previous ranking: 5

2025 record: 5-0

Week 6 result: Defeated Kent State 44-0

Stat to know: This was Oklahoma’s first shutout since its 2023 win over Arkansas State.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Texas (in Dallas), 3:30 p.m., ABC

Previous ranking: 8

2025 record: 5-0

Week 6 result: Idle

What’s next: Saturday at Oregon, 3:30 p.m., CBS

Previous ranking: 10

2025 record: 4-1

Week 6 result: Defeated Vanderbilt 30-14

Stat to know: Kalen DeBoer is now 13-2 in matchups between two ranked teams.

What’s next: Saturday at Missouri, noon, ABC

Previous ranking: 11

2025 record: 5-0

Week 6 result: Defeated Houston 35-11

Stat to know: Texas Tech has now won five straight games by 20-plus points for first time since 1953-54.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Kansas, 7:30 p.m., Fox

Previous ranking: 12

2025 record: 4-1

Week 6 result: Defeated Kentucky 35-14

Stat to know: Georgia has a 16-game win streak against Kentucky.

What’s next: Saturday at Auburn, 7:30 p.m., ABC

Previous ranking: 13

2025 record: 4-1

Week 6 result: Idle

What’s next: Saturday vs. South Carolina, 7:45 p.m., SEC Network

Previous ranking: 15

2025 record: 4-1

Week 6 result: Idle

What’s next: Saturday vs. Arkansas, 4:15 p.m., SEC Network

Previous ranking: 17

2025 record: 5-0

Week 6 result: Idle

What’s next: Saturday vs. Virginia Tech, 3:30 p.m., ACC Network

Previous ranking: 19

2025 record: 5-0

Week 6 result: Idle

What’s next: Saturday vs. Alabama, noon, ABC

Previous ranking: 20

2025 record: 4-1

Week 6 result: Defeated Wisconsin 24-10

Stat to know: Michigan has now won consecutive games against Wisconsin for the first time since 2002.

What’s next: Saturday at USC, 7:30 p.m., NBC

Previous ranking: 21

2025 record: 3-2

Week 6 result: Defeated Boise State 28-7

Stat to know: Against Boise State, Notre Dame had four interceptions in a game for the first time since 2023.

What’s next: Saturday vs. NC State, 3:30 p.m., Peacock

Previous ranking: 22

2025 record: 5-1

Week 6 result: Defeated Purdue 42-27

Stat to know: Illinois has now won consecutive games against Purdue for the first time since 2001-02.

What’s next: Saturday vs. Ohio State, noon, Fox

Previous ranking: 23

2025 record: 5-0

Week 6 result: Defeated West Virginia 38-24

Stat to know: BYU has started 5-0 for the sixth time in program history.

What’s next: Saturday at Arizona, 8 p.m., ESPN2

Previous ranking: 24

2025 record: 5-1

Week 6 result: Defeated Louisville 30-27 (OT)

Stat to know: The win over Louisville is Virginia’s second straight overtime win. Virginia had never won multiple overtime games in a season prior to 2025.

What’s next: Oct. 18 vs. Washington State, 6:30 p.m., The CW