Starting Kodai Senga in Game 1 of the National League Division Series worked well for the New York Mets. So manager Carlos Mendoza is taking the same approach for the NLCS versus the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Senga will start Game 1 on Sunday, Mendoza announced on Saturday. In his postseason start against the Philadelphia Phillies, the right-hander pitched two innings and allowed one run on one hit. He walked one batter with three strikeouts on 31 pitches.
Jack Flaherty gets the Game 1 nod for the Dodgers, reports Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. He last started Game 2 of the NLDS against the San Diego Padres, giving up four runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Senga will make only his third start of the season and is not expected to throw many innings. But Mendoza agreed when asked if Senga could pitch three innings. He’ll probably be limited to 45-50 pitches, so whatever comes first.
The Mets should have a fully available bullpen behind Senga for Game 1 with three days off and only three relievers in last Wednesday’s Game 5 clincher. Usual starters David Peterson and Tylor Megill should not be missing from that mix.
One difference between the Mets’ NLDS and NLCS rotation is that Sean Manaea will start Game 2. He pitched Game 2 against the Phillies and will be resting for four days. Meanwhile, Luis Severino could potentially be available to pitch in Game 1 or Game 3 will likely start on nine days’ rest and Jose Quintana will have seven since his NLDS Game 4 start.
Mendoza did not announce the starters for Games 3 and 4, but Severino and Quintana will likely go in that order and Senga would likely start Game 5, if necessary.
For the Dodgers, manager Dave Roberts has not yet announced any official decisions. But Walker Buehler will likely start Game 2, while Yoshinobu Yamamoto may go in Game 3. That would put him on track to throw a Game 7 if push comes to shove.
