Mets ace Kodai Senga throws 68 pitches in rehab start and could return next weekend

NEW YORK (AP) — Mets ace Kodai Senga pitched into the fourth inning Saturday night in a rehab start for Double-A Binghamton against Hartford.

Senga allowed four runs, three earned, and six hits while striking out four and walking two in 3 2/3 innings. The right-hander threw 44 of 68 pitches for strikes.

One of 13 Mets pitchers on the injured list, Senga could return to New York’s ravaged rotation next weekend in Kansas City just before the All-Star break.

Senga strained his right hamstring covering first base on June 12 and the Mets went into a 3-14 tailspin afterward. He is 7-3 with a 1.47 ERA in 13 starts this season.

Earlier in the day, Zach Pop signed a one-year contract with the Mets and joined their bullpen before a Subway Series game against the New York Yankees. The right-hander wasn’t used as the Mets won 12-6 for their fourth straight victory.

Pop made four relief appearances for the Seattle Mariners in June before getting designated for assignment last weekend. Rather than accept an outright assignment to the minors, he elected free agency on Wednesday.

Right-hander Austin Warren was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse after throwing 34 pitches over 1 2/3 innings in relief Friday for the Mets during their 6-5 victory over the crosstown-rival Yankees.

Right-hander Tyler Zuber was designated for assignment to clear a spot for Pop on the 40-man roster.

Pop permitted one run over 4 1/3 innings in his first three outings with the Mariners but then was tagged for eight runs — seven earned — in one inning June 26 at Minnesota. He gave up six hits, two walks and two homers in that game.

The 28-year-old Pop grew up in Canada before going to college at Kentucky. He is 8-5 with a 4.75 ERA and one save in 162 major league games over five seasons with Miami, Toronto and Seattle.

In other news, right-handed starter Tylor Megill (elbow sprain) is beginning to play catch. Lefty reliever Brooks Raley (Tommy John surgery) has been pitching well during his minor league rehab assignment but isn't expected back until after the All-Star break, manager Carlos Mendoza said.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Mets' Austin Warren pitches during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Thursday, June 26, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

LONDON (AP) — The Conference League concludes its first phase with the sixth round on Thursday and Strasbourg the only team to have already secured a direct spot to the round of 16.

The French side tops the standings after four wins and a draw, and closes at home to Breidablik from Iceland.

The 36 clubs in the third-tier European competition play six different opponents and are ranked in a single-standings format. The clubs in the Champions League and Europa League each play eight matches.

The top eight teams in the Conference League go directly to the round of 16 in March. Teams placed ninth to 24th advance to the two-leg knockout playoffs in February. The bottom 12 teams are eliminated.

Crystal Palace, making its European debut after winning the FA Cup last season, is in ninth place — a point behind AEK Athens, Samsunspor, Sparta Prague, Rayo Vallecano and Mainz.

A home win at Selhurst Park over another newcomer, KuPS from Finland, could send the Eagles directly to the last 16.

Two-time runner-up Fiorentina is at Lausanne-Sport. Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, Slovenia’s Celje and Cyprus' AEK Larnaca also need to win in their last game to have a chance to advance directly.

Alkmaar plays Poland’s Jagiellonia, Celje meets Shelbourne and AEK Larnaca faces Macedonia’s Shkendija.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Fiorentina's Moise Kean, left, celebrates scoring during the Conference League soccer match between Fiorentina and Dynamo Kyiv in Florence, Italy, Thursday Dec. 11, 2025. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP)

Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton reacts after missing a scoring chance during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Manchester City in London, Sunday, Dec.14, 2025. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)