NEW YORK – The New York Mets’ pitcher, Kodai Senga, is set to take the mound for Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers this Sunday. This marks a remarkable turnaround for Senga, who faced significant injury setbacks earlier in the season, managing only two games this year.
Mets’ manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed on Saturday that the entire roster will be “available and ready to go” for the series. He stated, “So it’s Senga and then we’ll see after that,” following a light practice session before the team’s travel to Los Angeles.
Senga made his much-anticipated return during the NL Division Series, where he started Game 1 against the Philadelphia Phillies on October 5. In that game, he pitched two innings and allowed just one run, contributing to the Mets’ 6-2 victory.
Earlier this season, Senga was sidelined for the first 102 games due to a right shoulder capsule strain. His return was short-lived when he made a single regular-season start on July 26, where he allowed two runs over 5 1/3 innings against the Atlanta Braves before suffering a strained left calf. Mendoza noted that the fact Senga is able to pitch again this postseason is a positive sign for the team.
When asked about his innings limit during a press conference, Senga responded through an interpreter: “There’s not a number I have in mind. I’m going until they take the ball away from me and I’m going to go at 100% until then.”
By reinstating Senga into the rotation, the Mets are ensuring he receives adequate rest, optimizing both his performance and that of the rest of the pitching staff. Including the postseason appearance against the Phillies, Senga has had ample rest, starting 26 out of his 30 major league games with at least five days between starts.
For Game 2 on Monday, Sean Manaea is set to take the mound, having reached a personal milestone with 193 2/3 innings accumulated this season. Meanwhile, Luis Severino has pitched 194 innings, his most since 2018. David Peterson has also stepped up this postseason, delivering 6 1/3 scoreless innings while having a career-high of 121 innings pitched during the regular season.
Mendoza highlighted the importance of placing pitchers in positions that will enhance their chances of success, especially considering their physical conditions: “For Senga, we wanted to keep it as close as possible to his routine. And then with some of the other guys, it’s because of where they’re at physically and who will benefit from an extra day.”
Additionally, the Mets may also see Jeff McNeil make an unexpected return to the lineup after he suffered a broken right wrist from being hit by a pitch, which cut his regular season short on September 6. Recently, McNeil recorded one hit and a walk while manning second base for the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League.
Mendoza mentioned that McNeil is expected to play right field in Scottsdale on Saturday, and there’s a strong likelihood he could be included on the NLCS roster if he remains in good health.
Reflecting on the team’s journey, Mendoza expressed disbelief at how circumstances have changed since announcing Senga’s season-ending injury and McNeil’s early exit due to his wrist fracture. “And here we were yesterday, having those conversations. It was a good feeling—pretty incredible. I’m just glad that they are healthy now.”
