2024 MLB Playoffs: Mets Skipper Reveals How Kodai Senga’s Phone Call “Encouraged” Team to Give Him a Surprise Start In NLDS

Kodai Senga’s season has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride. It all started in Spring Training when he hit a snag with a shoulder injury that was supposed to keep him out for just a month. Well, fast forward a few months, and it turned out to be way more than that—he didn’t see the mound again until July! Talk about a frustrating wait for both him and the fans. Senga has made just one Major League start since suffering that shoulder injury and that was more than ten weeks ago. But now, Carlos Mendoza, the manager of the Mets, has disclosed that Senga will start the opening game of the National League Division Series on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park against the Phillies.

The way things have worked out for Kodai Senga is fairly amazing. He contacted the Mets shortly before Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series to inquire about their pitching preparations should they proceed, as reported by MLB.com. You’d think that after all the uncertainties surrounding his health, this would be a debated idea. Concerns regarding Senga’s anticipated return date had frequently been laughed at by manager Carlos Mendoza. Senga, however, assured the squad he was prepared to proceed. The fact that Senga made the request rather than the team pressuring him is what makes this situation so amazing.  

When Kodai Senga stated he would be ready, Mendoza felt he could trust him, and it appears the right-hander will soon step up. The Mets comfortable sending Senga up against one of the best offenses in the league, the Phillies, despite his extended absence. Throughout five and a half innings, he had held the Braves—a rather formidable lineup—to just two runs. However, the Mets don’t anticipate him to play that far into the game this time. Given that Senga is still getting used to being a starter, Mendoza has been rather silent regarding Senga’s pitch count and any innings cap. So, we might see him for just a couple of innings.  

Kodai Senga’s postseason knowledge finally yields results 

Senga joins with a plethora of postseason knowledge from his eleven years in Japan with the Softbank Hawks. With a strong backup plan in place, the Mets are undoubtedly ready for any eventuality that may arise in Kodai Senga’s absence. In addition to starters Tylor Megill and David Peterson, the team has their entire bullpen ready to take over. Although he just threw eight pitches in Game 3, Peterson just finished the Wild Card round. Megill is also ready for a full workload if necessary; he was not on the Wild Card roster. 

For Kodai Senga, this is a long-overdue start. Before the previous season, he inked a $75 million, five-year contract with the Mets. Finally, after a difficult journey marred by injuries, he’s getting his chance in the postseason. Kodai Senga finished with a 12-7 record and a brilliant 2.98 ERA in 29 games during the previous season. He was even selected for the NL All-Star team. When it came to the Phillies, he didn’t back down, giving only two earned runs in two starts against them.

The backup plans are essential because the Mets are unsure about Senga’s potential following his protracted layoff. He will, interestingly, be joining a select group of pitchers: before this season, Virgil Trucks was the only pitcher to start a postseason game for the 1945 Tigers following his World War II service, despite making just one MLB appearance during that season. With Senga preparing to join AJ Smith-Shawver of Atlanta, who reached that list just this week, fans can’t wait to see how this intriguing adventure of his plays out.