Senga rebounds from leadoff HR with 2 sharp innings

PHILADELPHIA -- The box score reads of a two-inning start. The significance of it for the Mets goes far beyond that.

Kodai Senga’s return to the mound in the Mets’ 6-2 win over the Phillies in Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park gave New York confidence the right-hander who made one start the entire regular season could be a postseason contributor.

Right-hander Luis Severino is tabbed to start Game 2, with left-handers Sean Manaea and Jose Quintana likely to start Games 3 and 4, respectively. Senga would be lined up to pitch in a Game 5, if necessary. Given his pitch count on Saturday, an increase to three innings (45-50 pitches) could be expected.

“If I’m not healthy, I don’t have another opportunity,” Senga said through an interpreter. “But this puts me in a spot where I might potentially be ready for a game in the future.”

Senga, who had been sidelined for all but one regular-season appearance (July 26) because of a right shoulder capsule strain and a left calf strain, got the nod in the NLDS opener following a lengthy rehab stint. After throwing a 25-pitch live batting practice session this week, he informed the Mets’ staff that he felt healthy enough to return.

Senga set up the Mets' bullpen by throwing two innings with one hit, one run, one walk and three strikeouts across 31 pitches (18 strikes). He mixed in 13 fastballs, six sweepers, six forkballs, three sliders, two cutters and one curveball.

“It was awesome,” said left-hander David Peterson, who became the first Mets reliever to throw at least three scoreless innings in the postseason since Darren Oliver in Game 3 of the NLCS against the Cardinals on Oct. 14, 2006. “It was good to have him back. He gave us two great innings. He started us off and passed the torch.”

Senga was greeted in his return by Phillies leadoff threat Kyle Schwarber. He caught Schwarber swinging at a first-pitch slider, then delivered a 97 mph fastball out of the zone. Senga’s 95.9 mph four-seamer down the middle enticed Schwarber, who rocked the fastball a Statcast-projected 425 feet to right-center field at 115.8 mph for his fifth career postseason leadoff home run. Senga described it as “a regretful pitch.”

“Because the home run was so sudden, I was able to switch my mind and actually become more calm and run through the data again in my head,” Senga said.

At the center of a roaring Phillies crowd, Senga locked in and struck out Trea Turner on five pitches -- the final one his signature forkball. He got out of the first inning without further damage after walking Bryce Harper by fanning Nick Castellanos and getting Alec Bohm to pop out to second.

“I’ve been pitching a pretty long time,” said Senga, who won six Japan Series titles. “I’ve given up a fair share of homers, so in order to stay out there, I need to reflect on myself, be calm and get after the next guy.”

Senga efficiently retired the side in the second inning. Bryson Stott popped out to third base, Senga struck out J.T. Realmuto and he concluded his afternoon with a Brandon Marsh flyout to left field.

“Other than that pitch that Schwarber took him deep, he was really good,” said Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. “The fact that we saw 97 [mph] out of him, and then just the secondary pitches, his split was really good, the slider was good.”

Senga emphasized the importance of feeling healthy and helping the Mets win. He also reiterated that he will be ready to take the mound when called on next, and he is focused on looking ahead to that opportunity.

“A lot of things to reflect on, a lot of things going inside my head right now,” Senga said. “But I might pitch against them again, so maybe after the series we can talk more.”