Mets Choose Surprise Starting Pitcher For Game 1 Of NLDS

Getty Image / Aaron Gash

Somehow, the Mets are still standing. The team snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in the 9th inning of their do-or-die NL Wild Card Game 3 against the Milwaukee Brewers, and advanced to play the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS.

The Mets are pretty much out of starting pitching after a crazy week, but a huge surprise was in store for fans when manager Carlos Mendoza announced the starting pitcher for Game 1 of the NLDS.

New York rallied in the 9th inning of last night’s game, and this Pete Alonso home run gave them the lead. They’d tack on another run to win 4-2.

THE POLAR BEAR!!!!!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING RIGHT NOW???? pic.twitter.com/cBxKzRDp1K

— x – New York Mets (@Mets) October 4, 2024

It was the first come-from-behind, go-ahead home run in a deciding-game of a playoff series in Major League history.

But, starting pitching heading to Philadelphia was looking like a problem. David Peterson pitched the first game of the doubleheader against the Braves on Monday, Luis Severino pitched Game 1 of the Brewers series, Sean Manaea pitched Game 2, and Jose Quintana pitched Game 3. Peterson came in to close out Game 3 on Thursday, meaning he wouldn’t be available for Game 1 of the NLDS. Those are the four guys the Mets want starting playoff games. While they could’ve started fifth-starter Tylor Megill, they wanted to avoid that.

Enter Kodai Senga. The Japanese star pitcher has only pitched 5.1 innings this year, battling an arm injury in the beginning of the year and then straining his calf in his only starting against the Braves back in July after pitching wonderfully. But, he’s been rehabbing in hopes to return to the team.

Still, it seemed iffy if he would be on the roster for the NLDS. When Carlos Mendoza announced him as the Game 1 starter, I don’t think any Mets fans could believe it.