NEW YORK — Kodai Senga will start Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza announced. Sean Manaea will start Game 2 on Monday.
It’s the spot — Game 1 starter — the Mets envisioned for Senga when they reported for spring training with the right-hander as their ace. Getting there, however, went sideways.
Senga didn’t make his season debut until July 26 after beginning the season on the injured list with a strained posterior capsule in his right shoulder. He exited that outing in the sixth inning with a strained calf that knocked him out for the remainder of the regular season. Only the Mets reaching the postseason could offer Senga a path back to the mound in 2024.
That happened, and Senga returned to toss two innings in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies . He allowed one run — a leadoff home run in the first inning to Kyle Schwarber — and had three strikeouts in the Mets’ 6-2 road win.