The Mets are considering activating Kodai Senga for their National League Division Series roster, reports Mike Puma of the New York Post (X link). The Athletic’s Will Sammon writes that the decision hinges on whether the Mets want to devote a spot to another pitcher who would be limited to short outings.
New York was a couple outs away from not having a call to make. Pete Alonso’s dramatic three-run homer off Devin Williams in the ninth inning erased a 2-0 deficit. The Mets stunned the Brewers to advance to the NLDS for the first time since their 2015 pennant campaign. They’ll head to Philadelphia for a set with the NL East champion Phillies. The series begins on Saturday afternoon. Zack Wheeler will get the ball for the Phils against a yet unannounced Mets starter. Anthony DiComo of MLB.com tweeted tonight that Tylor Megill is the leading candidate to start Game 1.
Senga isn’t an option for the rotation but could contribute an inning out of the bullpen. The 31-year-old righty threw 25 pitches in a bullpen session earlier this week. Senga’s second MLB season has been almost completely wiped out by injury. Spring Training shoulder issues kept him out until July. He sustained a significant calf strain during his first start back and has been on the injured list since then. Senga made a push for a return late in the regular season that was halted by triceps soreness.
New York has leaned heavily on the bullpen, especially their closer, as they’ve battled to keep their season alive. They used four relievers — including a 40-pitch outing from Edwin Díaz — to clinch a playoff spot in the first game of Monday’s doubleheader against Atlanta. That afforded them the luxury of staying away from leverage arms in Game 2 of the twin bill, but they didn’t have any off days before heading to Milwaukee.
Manager Carlos Mendoza called upon José Buttó for two innings and Ryne Stanek for a frame on Tuesday. The Mets used Reed Garrett, Stanek, and Phil Maton for an inning each on Wednesday. (Maton blew the lead and took the loss.) Buttó surrendered back-to back homers and was quickly pulled tonight, so the Mets turned to Díaz for another 39 pitches to keep their deficit at two going into the ninth. David Peterson got the ball in the bottom half and locked down the save. Tomorrow’s off day will help, but the Phils will obviously have the fresher bullpen in the early portion of the series.
The Mets carried the maximum 13 pitchers for the Wild Card series. They’ll need to drop at least one to make room for Megill, who was left off the Wild Card roster because the Mets didn’t need five starters. Activating Senga would drop a second pitcher. Max Kranick, Adam Ottavino, Huascar Brazobán and Danny Young did not pitch in the Wild Card series. Kranick and Brazobán are probably the likeliest to be pushed off the roster. The Mets would also need to make a 40-man roster move to activate Senga from the 60-day IL. That’s a formality that could be achieved by moving Paul Blackburn or Dedniel Núñez to the 60-day IL.
This would be something special.
Wheeler versus Megill. Ouch.
They’re obviously doing some things right. At this point, they have nothing to lose, so I’ll take my chances with that matchup.
Playing on “House” money, BB & riding high right now. Being a clear ace on the Mets really hasn’t happened. Everyone of their starters are contributing.
Has been a wild ride so far. Between the teens on this site and their bad jokes and being counted out every step of the way, I have to say I love this group of guys.
Worked out okay for the Mets earlier in the year..
I’ve always wondered about the strategy of just taking an L against the other team when they have such a dominant guy like 2024 Wheeler. Run your 4 out there and try to offset the rest of series in your favor. The odds are high he comes out with 7-8 strong. Play the odds so to speak. Yeah, it’s baseball and anything can happen but still, in this day with analytics controlling every move, why not?
Literally the worst baseball strategy idea I ever heard.
The Mets won that same matchup two weeks ago.
It’s not ideal for the Mets but since returning from AAA at the end of August, here’s Megill’s stats:
Six starts, 31 innings, 2.32 ERA, 36 Ks, 10 BBs. Lowered his season ERA to 4.04 and his FIP to 3.55.
This is why they play the games.
Wheeler used to pitch for the mets and although he is way better now, he’s known to wet the bed once in a while.
Any pitcher can be hit on a given day, and look what they just did against two of the league’s top bullpens.
Call him up, this isn’t the regular season so pitchers don’t have the same rest
It’s like running a mile cross country race at the end you want to run as fast as possible
Their secret weapon: Senga. Select Senga and the whole NL house of bricks comes a tumbling down!
Mets looking good and dangerous. The Mets needed to use Lindor to lead off ever since they got him. Finally at mid season made the switch. The Yankees need to do the same with Jazz move him to lead off now that Volpe has been struggling. Torres is not a lead off hitter.
Gleyber has been thriving since the move to leadoff. The Yankees lineup is just fine the way it is
@Ronk. i’m more old school thinking.I want more speed at the top of the line up. The Yankees did amazing things with Knobby or Jeter
But these aren’t Jeter’s Yankees.
All teams left are exceptional. PHI absolutely the better team as proven over 162. But also true that NYM typically play PHI tough. Should be a great edge of your seat series
Important note is that the Mets & Phillies split their season series a 7-7.
The Phillies took the early season meeting decisively, and lost in the later meetings.
One of Wheeler’s losses came in the last meeting with the Mets…
SHould be a very interesting series
Phillies won the season series, 7-6 I believe
Which means nothing. The Brewers went 5-1 against the Mets.
Going farther back, the Mets went 10-1 against the Dodgers in 1988. We know how that NLCS turned out.