While the outlook for the 2024 New York Mets wasn't particularly high going into this season, it's going to be even more murky with the news that Kodai Senga likely won't be available for Opening Day.

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns announced on Thursday that Senga has been diagnosed with a moderate posterior capsule strain in his right shoulder.

Senga will be shut down until his symptoms subside and there's no timetable for his return, but the Mets don't expect him to be ready for the start of the regular season.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters on Wednesday that Senga didn't take part in the team's morning workout and informed the club he was dealing with "overall arm fatigue" after throwing a side session on Tuesday.

Stearns did say that Senga's injury doesn't necessarily increase the team's chances of signing another starter who is still on the free-agent market.

Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery are the top two pitchers still available, but neither one has been connected to the Mets at any point during the offseason.

There are lower-tier pitchers like Mike Clevinger and Michael Lorenzen available if the Mets don't want to spend a lot of money. They already shopped at that end of the free-agent market earlier this offseason by signing Luis Severino and Sean Manaea.

Stearns indicated the Mets would likely replace Senga in the rotation with an in-house option like Tylor Megill, Jose Butto or Joey Lucchesi.

Senga was going to be counted on to carry New York's pitching staff this season. He posted a 2.98 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 166.1 innings during the 2023 campaign after signing a five-year, $75 million contract in December 2022.

The 31-year-old finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting and seventh in the NL Cy Young race last season.

New York will open the 2024 regular season on March 28 against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citi Field.