Senga is scheduled to begin rehab next week; Diaz begins his suspension

Kodai Senga is finally making real, tangible and meaningful progress toward a return to the Major Leagues.

He announced Tuesday that he plans to begin minor league rehab next week, his first game of the year after being diagnosed with a strained right shoulder in February.

If the Mets use the 30 days allowed in such situations, or anywhere close to the full 30 days – which is the most likely scenario given that he didn’t pitch at all in spring training and they’ve been very cautious with him – Senga would be on track for his season debut in early August.

“It’s hard to say (when I last felt this good),” Senga said through an interpreter. “But I feel really good, both mechanically and physically. Both are necessary for me to come back.”

Senga was much more optimistic than last month, when first a mechanical problem and then a triceps problem set him back several months.

The reason for the change in mood: things are going well now. He reported that he felt strong before, during and after his live batting practice over the weekend. A second and probably final live batting practice is planned for him on Thursday.

“Everything feels really good, so I don’t think there will be any issues,” Senga said. “I’ll be more excited as my return to the big leagues gets closer.”

Diaz’s break begins

After MLB suspended closer Edwin Diaz for 10 games for cheating – for applying a banned foreign substance to his throwing hand – the Mets did not make him available for an interview on Tuesday.

Diaz’s suspension began with the Subway Series opener against the Yankees. He is scheduled to return to action on July 6.

“We want to put this behind us,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “We don’t want this cloud to hang over the team for too long.”

Mendoza said he would not use a specific reliever as closer in Diaz’s absence. Reed Garrett, Jake Diekman and Drew Smith are some of his options under the by-committee approach.

Additional bases

Sean Reid-Foley’s MRI confirmed the Mets’ original diagnosis: right shoulder impingement, nothing more serious. That was good news. They expect him back as soon as he’s cleared to play (July 5) or shortly thereafter. “We’re good, brother,” Reid-Foley said. “It’s easy. Relaxing.” … Michael Mays, the son of Willie Mays, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Yankees’ game against the Mets on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the Mets held a memorial video and a moment of silence for the Hall of Famer, who died last week.

Tim Healey is the Mets reporter for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of Hometown Hardball, a book about minor league baseball in the Northeast.