Kodai Senga’s Game 5 role remains a Mets mystery

Kodai Senga is “scheduled” to pitch in some capacity in Game 5, manager Carlos Mendoza said on Tuesday night. 

What exactly that entails is uncertain.

The Mets manager said Senga could be used out of the bullpen if he doesn’t start.

David Peterson and Tylor Megill are other options to start as well, depending on if either is used in relief in Game 3 or Game 4. 

“It depends how we get there,” Mendoza said. 

Senga was shaky in the series opener, allowing three earned runs in 1 ¹/₃ innings of work while walking four.

He has thrown just 8 ²/₃ innings all season after missing time with calf and shoulder injuries.

Still, Mendoza clearly believes in him. 

“He’s an ace, man. This is a guy that we saw making a start against the Braves, and he was lights-out,” Mendoza said. “He pitched against the Phillies, and when he’s throwing 96, 97 — there was one pitch where [Kyle] Schwarber got him, but other than that he was pretty good. I’m pretty confident giving him the ball.” 

Senga only threw 30 pitches in Game 1, but he did get in more work in the bullpen after he was pulled.

Mendoza said the hope is Senga could go four innings if he does indeed get the start. 

Brandon Nimmo is dealing with plantar fasciitis in his left foot, but he remained the starting left fielder on Wednesday.

He is playing through discomfort and pain. 

“I think it’s a day-to-day-type deal. I will check with him after every game,” Mendoza said. “He’s going to be honest with me. If he feels like he cannot go, he’s going to let me know. And then I’m going to have to make some adjustments.” 

Mendoza made a change at designated hitter, giving J.D. Martinez his first start of the series in place of Jesse Winker, although Winker had good numbers against Dodgers starter Walker Buehler (four hits and two home runs in 15 at-bats).

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During the year, left-handed hitters crushed Buehler to the tune of an .890 OPS.

Righties were pretty good, too, with an .833 OPS. 

“We’re looking at a lot of things, not just OPS,” Mendoza said. “We’re looking at pitch movement, pitch uses, swing path from our guys, how they’re attacking some of the righties, how they are attacking some of the lefties. There’s a lot that we look into it. And I feel like today was a good matchup for J.D.” 

Mendoza gave “consideration” to going with Jeff McNeil at second base rather than Jose Iglesias, who is hitting just .222 in the postseason without an extra-base hit, but opted to keep the status quo.

McNeil pinch hit in Game 1, his first major league at-bat since fracturing his wrist on Sept. 6.