"I will have my popcorns"- Mets' Luis Severino excited for Kodai Senga's season debut as Japanese star returns from injury

Luis Severino was part of a nail-biter game on Thursday between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. The veteran pitcher started the game and left after pitching five innings, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out six.

The game went down to the wire with the Mets' Jeff McNeil walking-off the Braves in the 10th, winning the game 3-2. Now that the intense game is over, Severino wants to relax and enjoy Kodai Senga winning for the team on Friday and getting placed second in the NL East.

"And now, you know, the turnaround, and having Senga tomorrow, it'll be, you know, I will have my popcorns. It'll be fun to watch," Severino said in his post-game interaction.

It will be big news for the Mets, who'll have Kodai Senga make his season debut on Friday against the Braves and help the club ascend into the AL East division. Senga has been sidelined since spring training with a strained shoulder. Moreover, it can't come at a better time, with the Mets on a roll and currently on a four-game winning streak.

With Thursday's 3-2 win, the Mets have improved to 54-48, while the Braves have slid to 54-47, with both tightly contesting for the Wild Card spot in the postseason.

Kodai Senga wants to vent frustration with impactful performance in second-half

MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets - Source: Imagn

It was certainly a lengthy first four months for Kodai Senga, who struggled with a shoulder capsule strain and triceps inflammation. But now he is ready to put that all behind him and help the Mets claim a postseason spot. Ahead of Friday's start, Senga talked about his recovery and how frustrating it was for him.

"Yes, very, very, very difficult both mentally and physically," Senga said through interpreter Hiro Fujinami via Northjersey. "Now that I'm ready to go I want to put all that frustration towards the second half and perform."

"Putting any type of injection or something into your body, it's hard to figure out what your body can and can't do again," Senga added. "Between these past few months, I was able to figure out what I can and can't do. So I think again, it was a really productive few months."

Senga increased his pitch count to 79 in his fourth rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse on July 20. He said he could throw 100 pitches, but manager Carlos Mendoza would closely monitor his outing on Friday.