The New York Mets announced an unexpected starting pitcher for Game 1 of their National League division series with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Kodai Senga will get the starting nod in Saturday’s opener, manager Carlos Mendoza announced on Friday. What makes the choice surprising is that the right-hander made just one start for the Mets during the regular season due to various injuries.
Senga, 31, signed a five-year, $75 million contract with the Mets before the 2023 season and was an All-Star in his first season with the Mets. He made 29 starts with a 2.98 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 166 1/3 innings.
However, he hurt his right shoulder in spring training and subsequently struggled with his mechanics while recovering and rehabbing the injury. That resulted in triceps discomfort and nerve inflammation that further delayed his return.
During his first start of the season on July 26 against the Atlanta Braves, Senga strained his calf and had to leave the game. To that point, he struck out nine batters in 5 1/3 innings, while allowing two runs and two hits.
But the calf injury put him on the 60-day injured list, where he has been ever since. The Mets were hoping Senga could make an appearance before the end of the regular season. But problems arose again with his triceps to prevent that.
Senga approached the Mets about pitching in the series and that convinced Mendoza to give him the start. The pitcher said he felt healthy and strong enough to go after completing a 25-pitch live batting workout earlier this week and experiencing no discomfort afterward.
“If anyone knows themselves better than anyone, it’s Kodai Senga,” Mendoza told reporters, via Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. “We’ve been through it all year with him. The times he goes out and faces hitters or throws a lot of bullpens and doesn’t feel good, he always lets us know. And that wasn’t the case in this situation.”
Given how little he has pitched, Senga can’t be expected to throw many innings on Saturday. Mendoza wouldn’t reveal a pitch count or innings limit, but it’s hard to imagine him throwing more than two innings if he’s pitching well.
Still, the Mets are expected to have starters David Peterson and Tylor Megill ready to pitch behind Senga, in addition to a fully available bullpen. That should allow Mendoza to start Luis Severino, Sean Manaea and Jose Quintana later in the series and expand the rotation via a best-of-five matchup.
