Kodai Senga will start Game 1 of the NLDS for the New York Mets against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday, manager Carlos Mendoza announced Friday.
The decision came as surprise after Senga made only one start during the regular season due to injuries. He was diagnosed with a capsule strain in his throwing shoulder in spring training and did not make his season debut until July 26. He was pulled in the sixth inning of that start after throwing just 73 pitches due to a calf strain. Although the Mets initially hoped Senga would be able to come back by the end of the regular season, he complained of a triceps strain during a rehab start with Triple A Syracuse on Sept. 21 and the team ruled out the possibility of a comeback before the playoffs.
