Mets' Kodai Senga rebounds after leading HR to pitch two innings in start of NLDS Game 1

PHILADELPHIA – Kodai Senga allowed one run over two innings in his return to the New York Mets' rotation in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.

Senga made his first start in over two months in the cauldron of October baseball at Citizens Bank Park.

After three pitches, the Mets' October surprise looked like a mistake. That's when Kyle Schwarber launched a 96 mph Senga fastball into the second deck in right field – and we think it launched – for a home run.

KYLE SCHWARBER LEADOFF TANK 😳 pic.twitter.com/yJdMJsDINQ

– MLB (@MLB) October 5, 2024

However, from that point on, Senga recovered. He retired six of the next seven Philadelphia Phillies. He threw 31 pitches (18 strikes) in his two innings. He struck out three and walked one.

In doing so, the right-hander showed that he should still be an option for the Mets later in this series, perhaps in a similar role in a crucial Game 5.

While Senga's fastball velocity is down about half a mile per hour compared to most of last summer, his forkball is still as hard to hit as ever. He threw it six times, the Phillies hit it three times and missed all three.

Kodai Senga, Vanishing Spirit Forks. 👻🍴 pic.twitter.com/UkHny2AInL

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 5, 2024

“I was pretty happy with that outing,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said during an interview on the Fox broadcast.

David Peterson replaced Senga in the bottom of the third inning. After completing Thursday's Wild Card Series win over the Brewers, Peterson was not a candidate for a traditional starting spot in this Game 1. Tylor Megill, who was the leading candidate to start Game 1 before Senga's return, is expected to start in this one Game can also be used.

Senga was in the starting lineup for only the second time this season – and the first time since the end of July. The star had missed all of spring training and the first four months of the regular season due to shoulder and triceps injuries. He again had a strong performance in a start against Atlanta in late July, but injured his calf during the game and landed back on the 60-day injured list.

Senga appeared to be on the verge of a big league return in the final week of the season, but the triceps problems reared their ugly head again. After two live batting practices, most recently on Monday, Senga let the Mets know he was ready to return.

(Photo: Heather Barry/Getty Images)