At the time of his press conference on Friday afternoon, Phillies manager Rob Thomson wasn’t sure who the Mets were starting in Game 1.
Just a few minutes later, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza threw a curveball. Right-hander Kodai Senga, who has pitched in only one game this season, will start Game 1.
Senga, the Mets’ best starting pitcher heading into the regular season, began the season on the injured list with a right shoulder capsule strain, returned for one start against the Braves in late July and went back on the injured list with a left calf strain. He has been rehabbing at the Mets complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Senga was seen throwing in the outfield prior to the start of the Phillies’ workout on Friday. The Mets did not hold a workout.
Mendoza said Senga approached the Mets Thursday about potentially pitching in the series.
“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, the only outing he had this year before he went down again,” Mendoza said. “Very comfortable and excited to watch him pitch tomorrow.”
The initial expectation was that the Mets would start righty Tylor MeGill in Game 1. The Phillies could still see MeGill, lefty David Peterson and others out of the bullpen, especially if Senga’s outing is short.
“He’s been building up in Florida,” Mendoza said. “Like I said, we have an idea, but we’re gonna let the game unfold and we’ll make adjustments as we go.”
In two career starts against the Phillies, Senga has a 1.46 in 12 1/3 innings. He carved up the Phillies in a May 30, 2023 start at Citi Field, striking out nine over seven innings.
Mendoza also said that right-hander Luis Severino will pitch Game 2 for New York.
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