Mets Playoff Notes: Jesse Winker expected to be in Game 6 lineup, Kodai Senga available out of bullpen

Here’s the latest from Mets manager Carlos Mendoza ahead of Sunday’s win-or-go-home NLCS Game 6 matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers…

Jesse Winker back in the lineup

As of now, Mendoza said that he expects Winker to be right back in the lineup as the designated hitter on Sunday night.

Winker sat Games 3 and 4 in favor of J.D. Martinez, but with the veteran struggling to get much of anything going at the plate, he was back in the mix for Friday’s Game 5.

And the move certainly paid off as the lefty slugger provided an immediate spark, reaching base three times including an RBI triple to extend the lead in the bottom of the fourth.

Winker has reached base safely in his last four starts and he’s now hitting a stellar .316 with two triples, a homer, four RBI, and a 1.203 OPS across 19 postseason at-bats.

The Mets will look for him to keep swinging a hot bat as they try to keep their season alive once again in what’s expected to be a bullpen game for the Dodgers.

Senga available out of pen

As was the case on Friday night, Mendoza said that Kodai Senga will be available out of the Mets’ bullpen behind starter Sean Manaea, if needed.

While Senga struggled during his last appearance, and he has never been used in relief during his time with the Mets, the skipper is prepared to use him in any spot.

“We’ll see how the game unfolds,” he said. “I wouldn’t hesitate giving him the ball in the third, in the fourth, the sixth, seventh, he might even be getting the last three outs of the game. He’s on the active roster, there’s a reason why. He’s a good pitcher and like I said, guys will step up and Senga will be one of them.”

Senga wasn’t sharp in just his second start since returning from injury, issuing four walks and allowing three runs across just 1.1 innings of work in the series opener last weekend.

Prior to that, the ace right-hander pitched relatively well against the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS, as the only damage against him was a Kyle Schwarber leadoff homer.

There was some debate about the Mets potentially taking Senga off the roster after his rough start, but the team ultimately opted to keep him around, and now he may get a chance to make his mark with the season on the line.