The New York Mets have truly had a chaotic season. And Friday provided the latest unexpected twist.
Thursday night saw the Mets advance to the National League Division Series after a thrilling comeback victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in a winner-take-all game. Free-agent-to-be Pete Alonso provided the decisive blow with a three-run ninth-inning home run.
The Mets have little time to celebrate, though, as they get set to take on the division rival Philadelphia Phillies beginning on Saturday in a best-of-five showdown. And having used their three best starting pitchers against Milwaukee, the Mets looked to be at a disadvantage.
However, on Friday, the Mets flipped the script on the Phillies. They'll be bringing back a star pitcher from the injured list who Philadelphia hasn't seen yet all season.
According to manager Carlos Mendoza, the Mets are planning to start Japanese superstar Kodai Senga in Game 1 of the NLDS. Senga, a 2023 All-Star and Rookie of the Year runner-up, has pitched in just one game all season, back on Jul. 26.
The news was a true shocker, considering most had written off the possibility of Senga pitching again at all this season. He missed the entire first half of the season with shoulder and triceps injuries, then suffered a high-grade calf strain in his lone start of the regular season.
When he's on, Senga is one of the most electric pitchers in baseball. He posted a 2.98 ERA in 29 starts in 2023, including 202 strikeouts in 166 2/3 innings, and his "ghost fork" is one of the most unique, unhittable pitches in the sport.
The Mets did a remarkable job of getting to the postseason without Senga, who was presumed to be their ace before he first got injured. Bringing him back is a roll of the dice, but it's one that could pay dividends if he has his best stuff.
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