New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga threw 30 pitches in a disastrous NLCS Game 1 outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.AP
Will the New York Mets’ decision to start Kodai Senga in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series be one they regret? Even though they have four wins to make it right, some MLB legends are questioning their approach.
Yankees greats Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez were not fans of the Mets starting Senga against the Dodgers on Sunday for various reasons. They explained themselves on the FOX Sports MLB studio show after the Mets’ 9-0 loss, one in which Senga lasted 1 1/3 innings and gave up three earned runs while throwing 10 of 30 pitches for strikes.
Jeter: “I mean, it was a little surprising — chalk it up to jet lag, whatever you want. A little unfair to (Senga). He hasn’t pitched much lately and you’re sending him out there in Game 1 of the NLCS against a hot Dodgers team.”
Later in the segment, Rodriguez questioned the move, too.
Rodriguez: “We don’t have the information. Who knows if somebody was hurt. From the outside you’re thinking, the Mets had three days to set up the starting rotation. You have (Sean) Manaea on full rest. You have (Luis) Severino, who hasn’t pitched in three days. You have (José) Quintana and (David) Peterson. A lefty would’ve been beautiful. I’m wondering why you put yourself in a hole. … The reason Senga is not a good matchup for this Dodgers team is that the Dodgers do not chase.”
Because of injuries, Senga entered with only 5 1/3 innings in the regular season and two innings during the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies. He is still building his workload and would not have gone more than three or four innings in a “perfect” start.
The early hole, which became 6-0 by the end of the fourth inning, meant the Mets were chasing the game from the start. And after a rollicking two weeks that saw the Mets clinch a playoff spot, come from behind to win several playoff games through signature moments and oust their division-rival Phillies, the Mets lacked their usual mojo Sunday.
It came from all over the field: They had three hits and made two errors, too.
“The Mets have played absolutely beautiful baseball for 2 1/2 months. Tonight, they looked out of sync a little bit … it was a comedy of hours — both on the bases, running the bases, throwing balls all over the place,” Rodriguez said.
Now, the Mets have a chance to even the series Monday afternoon when Manaea takes the mound against the Dodgers’ bullpen game.
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