Mets starter Kodai Senga pitches two innings in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Phillies

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kodai Senga pitched two innings and threw 31 pitches for the New York Mets in Game 1 of the NL Division Series against Philadelphia on Saturday in just his second start of the season.

Senga allowed Kyle Schwarber's leadoff home run on the third pitch of the game, walking away with the Mets trailing 1-0. Senga struck out three and walked one; Schwarber's home run was the only hit he allowed.

Senga had pitched just 5 1/3 major league innings all year before being named the surprise starter for the NLDS opener by Mets manager Carlos Mendoza.

“I thought he was actually pretty good,” Mendoza told Fox early in the fourth inning. “Other than the fastball that Schwarber got him down low, he was really good.” Up to 97 (mph), the split was really good, had depth, the slider was good, threw strikes. I was pretty happy with this trip.”

The Japanese star joined the Mets on a five-year, $75 million contract before the 2023 season and became an All-Star in his first season. He went 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA in 29 starts and finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

But the 31-year-old only had one start this season as he struggled with, among other things, injuries to his right triceps. Senga, the team's projected No. 1 starter this year, was also sidelined with a left calf strain.

“The rehab process has been up and down, but it's definitely been going in the right direction lately and to get me to this point, it's definitely gone well,” Senga said through an interpreter on Friday.

David Peterson, who earned his first career save in New York's decisive NL Wild Card Series game against Milwaukee, struck out the pitcher in the third inning.

Mendoza, in his first season as Mets manager, declined before the game to say how long he would let Senga go in Game 1 — or whether that would be the case for the rest of the series.

“I think we have an idea of ​​what we want to do here. And I have to make a decision,” Mendoza said. “I will talk to him, I will ask him. We have an idea of ​​what we're doing there. Hopefully we get to a point where that relationship continues to develop and there are more conversations, similar to what I have with the starters I manage throughout the year, and I know when to push and when not to. I don’t think I’ll be in Senga.”

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