Optimism is building that Kodai Senga will return to Mets this year as a starting pitcher

The Mets are feeling increasing hope and optimism that Kodai Senga will return this year, and that he will do so as a starting pitcher, according to multiple team sources.

Senga is eligible to be activated from the injured list on Sept. 25.

It is too early to say definitively if this will happen, and plans are far from set. But Senga impressed team brass with a strong 25-pitch bullpen session on Wednesday at Citi Field. He has made just one start this season, with a shoulder injury delaying his season and a July calf injury seeming to end it.

The team would prefer Senga to start, even if just for abbreviated outings. Given his unique preparation routine, and Tylor Megill’s experience in the bullpen, the Mets view Megill as a more natural fit to get high-leverage relief outs in a pennant race and postseason.

The logic in making Senga a starter, even if not fully built up, is that he would be more comfortable and productive in his most familiar role. He could start a playoff game, last a few innings, then give way to a piggybacking reliever. Teams tend to patch together pitching plans differently in the postseason, anyway.

Earlier this week, Senga said, “Given where we are in the season, realistically, am I going to be able to throw five, six innings as a starter? Probably not. Whether they use me as a starter or in the bullpen, that’s up to them. I just want to be ready to throw as many innings as possible for the team.”

Megill has pitched out of the bullpen before, and the Mets believe that his stuff plays up in short bursts. Team brass does not think he will have any issues recovering between relief outings, and that his past shoulder issues are resolved.

The Mets will have to make a rotation decision on Monday that could impact Megill. With Paul Blackburn set to return for the series in Toronto that starts the next day, the team is considering trying Megill in the bullpen then.

They are also still considering optioning Megill back to Triple-A to keep him stretched out as a starter, in case he’s needed this month.

If Megill stays with the big club, Huascar Brazoban is a candidate to be optioned back to Syracuse. The quality of Jose Quintana’s outing on Saturday against Cincinnati could also impact September rotation plans.