Mets Announce Game 1 and Game 2 Starters vs Dodgers in NLCS
The New York Mets will start Kodai Senga in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza announced that Sean Manaea will then start Game 2, per Jorge Castillo of ESPN.
Senga started during Game 1 of the Mets’ NL Division Series matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies. He pitched just two innings and allowed one hit, one earned run, and one walk while striking out three. Senga was limited after he pitched in only one game during the 2024 MLB regular season as he spent most of the year injured with a shoulder strain and then a calf strain.
The 31-year-old right-hander is unsure of how long he will pitch on Sunday after pitching just two innings in the NLDS but told reporters Saturday that he does not “anticipate” getting to 100 pitches in the game.
Senga is in his second season pitching in MLB, after spending a decade in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, where he was a three-time NPB All-Star. During his rookie MLB season in 2023, Senga made the All-Star team and finished second in the voting for the NL Rookie of the Year Award.
Senga has faced the Dodgers just once in his career so far on July 15, 2023. During that game, Senga pitched six innings and allowed four hits, one earned run, and two walks while striking out nine.
“A lot of great hitters in the lineup and if I leave a ball over the plate they’re probably going to hammer it … I just want to approach each hitter one pitch at a time,” Senga said of the Dodgers’ lineup Saturday.
Manaea will start Game 2 of the series on Monday at Dodger Stadium. He most recently started during the Mets’ win over the Phillies on Tuesday, pitching seven innings and giving up three hits, one earned run, and two walks while striking out six.
Manaea pitched against the Dodgers once this season at the beginning of the year on April 19. During that game, Manaea pitched five innings and allowed two earned runs and three walks to the Dodgers.
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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