Mets tab Kodai Senga for Game 1, Sean Manaea for Game 2

The New York Mets will send Kodai Senga to the mound in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, with Sean Manaea slated to start Game 2 on Monday.Senga, who opened the season on the injured list due to a strained posterior capsule in his right shoulder, will make just his third start of 2024 when the Mets and Dodgers open the best-of-seven NLCS at Dodger Stadium.In his season debut on July 26 against the Atlanta Braves, Senga left in the sixth inning with a strained calf that ended his regular season. He started Game 1 of the NL Division Series and allowed one run in two innings in the Mets’ 6-2 road win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Oct. 5.Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, who on Saturday announced the decision to start Senga in Game 1 and Manaea in Game 2, said Senga could pitch a minimum of three innings, though the right-hander from Japan feels he can work deeper into the game.”There’s not a number I have in mind,” said Senga, 31. “I’m going until they take the ball away from me. And I’m going to go 100 percent until then.”The left-handed Manaea will start Game 2 on regular rest after twirling a one-run, seven-inning gem against Philadelphia to clinch the Mets’ NLDS win in Game 4 on Wednesday.

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