Kodai Senga's NLDS return a high-risk, high-reward move for surging Mets

In the wake of the New York Mets dramatic 4-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of the wild-card series, all the attention was on Pete Alonso's improbable go-ahead, three-run home run in the ninth inning. You'd be forgiven if the news that injured Mets ace Kodai Senga is returning for the National League Division Series went under your radar.

Senga hasn't pitched since his lone start in July against the Atlanta Braves, where he sustained a calf injury that put him on the shelf for the rest of the regular season. This was after returning from a strained posterior capsule in his right shoulder that left him off the roster for the opening months of 2024.

In that lone start, he recorded nine strikeouts and allowed just a pair of runs in 5.1 innings. A healthy Senga is one of the Mets' most talented pitchers. He posted a 2.98 ERA with 202 strikeouts in 2023, thanks largely to his signature ghost fork pitch.

A variation on a traditional forkball, upon release, Senga's ghost fork looks like it's heading for a hittable part of the strike zone until it dips down at the last second, giving the appearance of a disappearing pitch — much like a ghost .

In October baseball, the entire pitching staff needs to be ready to go at any time, and starters can find themselves being closers. Case in point, Mets starter David Peterson was called in to get the save on Thursday, while traditional closer Edwin Diaz pitched through the seventh and eighth innings instead.

It would also fit the storybook season of the Mets; the battered ace returns to provide his team with crucial outs to secure a win against a longtime division rival. On the other side of the equation, if Senga can't deliver, the Mets will be forced to stretch a thin bullpen against a Philadelphia Phillies lineup anchored by dangerous hitters like Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper.

It's a high-risk, high-reward situation the Mets find themselves in, but it's clear the 2024 Mets thrive on the edge and strongly believe their players to step up when called upon. If Senga can answer that call is a storyline both teams will follow closely this weekend.