Carlos Mendoza explains Mets’ ‘wait’ with Kodai Senga after RHP’s return for Game 1 of NLDS at Phillies

The Mets is in wait-and-see mode with ace Kodai Senga‘s playoff availability after he threw 18 strikes on 31 pitches as the opener in Saturday’s 6-2 NLDS Game 1 win at the Philadelphia Phillies, his first outing since returning from the 60-day injured list, New York manager Carlos Mendoza explained Sunday.

“We’ve got to wait not only today, but tomorrow,” Mendoza said before Game 2. “We’ll have a better idea and see where we’re at. And hopefully he continues to feel good, and he continues to be a player for us moving forward, but he was a good sign last night. I haven’t seen him today. Again, I think we’ve got to wait not only today but get through tomorrow after he plays catch and we’ll have a better idea.”

Senga yielded one run on one hit, a solo homer by Kyle Schwarber to start the game, while striking out three and walking one in his first start since July 26.

The Mets are set to start right-hander Luis Severino next, followed by left-hander Sean Manaea for Tuesday’s Game 3 at Citi Field, in the best-of-five series.

“You’ve got to stick with your strength,” Mendoza said of Severino’s fastball reliability and overall strategy. “And whether it’s his fastball — the two-seam, the four-seam — biggest thing is he’s got to get ahead, and he’s got to stay on the attack. This is going to be an aggressive team, and they’re going to attack him. So I think he not only has to have a really good game plan but he’s got to go out there and execute.”