Kodai Senga shockingly announced as Mets Game 1 NLDS starter
PHILADELPHIA — The Mets will look to a “ghost” from their past to get this NLDS started in the right manner oಞn Saturday.
In a surprise move, Kodai Senga was named Friday as the Mets starting pitcher for Game 1 of the NLDS against the Phillies 👍at Citizens Bank Park.
The Post had reported a day earlier that the Japanese right-hander was “in the conversation” for a roster spot🎶 this postseason round.
Senga has pitched only 5 ¹/₃ innings for the Mets this season and was removed from his most recent minor league reh𒅌ab start two weeks agꦫo with triceps tightness.
But follo൩wing a live batting practice session in Port St. Lucie, Fla., in recent days and a subsequent bullpen session, he alerted team officials that he felt read꧙y to contribute.
“I am definitely feeling good physically and able to control all my pitches,” Senga said through his interpreter. “There’s a line inside myself. If I 🌼can pass that thꩲreshold, I’m ready for a good weekend.”
Senga, with his ghost forkball all the rage, finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year voting last year with a 2.98 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 166 ¹/₃ innings, but was shut down almost immediately after reᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚporting to spring training this season with a right shoulder str🐲ain.
Senga’s season debut didn’t occur until July 26, but he left thatꦗ start with a ✤high-grade left calf strain that took two months to rehab.
“We always had hopes,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “But it’s been the whole year, 💟and what made us feel comfortable with this decision was that he was the one wanting the baseball. And I think the only time we had that situation was when he faced the Braves [in July]. We’re pretty comfortable and excited to go and watch him pitch [Saturday].”
Mets officials were elusive about how deep into the game Senga might be allowed to work, but he is likꦬely facing a 1-2 inning appearance as an opener.
Senga was sched꧒uled to throw 35 pitches in his last rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse that was abbreviated by the triceps tightness.
But Senga 😼wouldn’t say how deep into the ga🔯me he might be comfortable going.
“I’m all in for 💫whatever,” Senga said. “If they say 10 pitches, I’m all-in for 10 pitches. If they say 200, I’m in for 200.”
The Mets will have options for long relief behind Senga, including David Peterson and Tylor Megill (the latter of whom Mendoza acknowledged would be on the roster after he was e𓄧xcluded in the last round). Mendoza 🍬announced Luis Severino as the Game 2 starter.
Peterson recorded the save Thursda💜y with a scoreless ninth inning in Milwaukee in the 4-2 victory that clinched the NL Wild Card Series.
Peterson said he was surprised toꦫ find out Senga would 🧜be starting the NLDS opener.
“I think everybody is glad to have him back, especially kind of the way the first time around this season went with him and only having him for the one start,” Peterson said. “It’s another🍷 elite arm we have at our disposal and I am♊ excited to watch him compete.”
Mendoza said discussions about Senga potentially pitching in the NLDS began before Wednesday’s Game 2 in Milwaukee, but the Mets had to concentrate on winning that series before getting too serious about the 📖Phillies.
“We listened to what he needed t🃏o say,”ꦇ Mendoza said. “It wasn’t an easy decision before we talked to him. He put it out there for us and then that is when we started, ‘OK, what’s it going to look like?’ And then talking to him face to face [Friday], he makes us feel really good about it.”