Kodai Senga allowed a run over two innings in his return to the New York Mets’ rotation in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. Senga was making his first start in over two months, and he was doing so in the cauldron of October baseball at Citizens Bank Park.

New York has mastered the art of the late-inning rally, first in Atlanta, then in a Wild Card Series win in Milwaukee and now in Philadelphia.

The New York Mets surprised everyone by naming Kodai Senga as the starter for Game 1 of the NLDS, an entirely unexpected move, but there's a reason behind that lineup decision. The New York Mets had to start Game 1 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies with Kodai Senga,