Kodai Senga Set to Start Game 1 of NLCS for Mets Against Dodgers

Kodai Senga, the ace pitcher for the New York Mets, is scheduled to start Game 1 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This marks Senga’s third start of the 2024 season, a year that has been significantly impacted by injuries, including issues with his shoulder, triceps, and calf.

Senga made his return to the mound in Game 1 of the National League Division Series (NLDS) against the Philadelphia Phillies, where he pitched two innings, allowing one hit, one run, and one walk, while striking out three. Despite a lead-off home run by Kyle Schwarber, Senga’s performance was encouraging, particularly his velocity, which was close to his average from last season.

For the NLCS Game 1, Senga is expected to pitch around three innings and throw 45-50 pitches, with the Mets’ bullpen ready to take over. The Mets’ relief corps, including Tylor Megill and David Peterson, is fully rested and prepared to support Senga.

The matchup against the Dodgers’ potent offense will be challenging. The Dodgers boast one of the best lineups in baseball, with a high batting average and OPS. However, Senga’s signature “ghost fork” pitch, a split-finger pitch, has been effective against many Dodgers hitters, including Teoscar Hernández, Max Muncy, Will Smith, and Gavin Lux. Despite this, the Dodgers are known for their discipline at the plate, having the second-lowest chase rate in the regular season.

Senga’s previous encounter with the Dodgers was in 2023, where he pitched six innings, allowing one run and striking out nine. However, this time around, he will face a lineup that includes Shohei Ohtani, who has had success against Senga in their past meeting.