NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: METS VS DODGERS

October 12, 2024

Kodai Senga

Dodger Stadium

New York Mets

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. How deep into tomorrow's game do you expect to pitch?

KODAI SENGA: There's not a number I have in mind. I'm going until they take the ball away from me, and I'm going to go at it 100 percent until then.

Q. Just how would you describe the challenge you face in that Dodgers lineup?

KODAI SENGA: Not exclusively the Dodgers, but good hitters in general around the league, if you miss, they're going to hit you, just try to control what I can control and do my best against each hitter.

Q. I know there were limitations on you in Philadelphia in that you met those two-inning, 31-pitch limitations, but how strong did you feel by the end of the second inning, and in your mind could you have gone farther if they would have allowed you?

KODAI SENGA: I think when they changed pitchers it has a lot to do with match-ups and where we are in the lineup and stuff like that. It's more of a mental switch once they take the ball away from me, it turns off, and then I'm done for the game. As long as the switch stays on, I'm good for whenever.

Q. What is the most difficult part of facing this Dodgers lineup, specifically?

KODAI SENGA: A lot of great hitters in the lineup. If I leave a ball over the plate, they're probably going to hammer it. Like I said earlier, that goes for a lot of hitters around the league. I'm repeating myself, but I just want to approach each hitter one pitch at a time.

Q. And the Mets, in your time here, have been very, very careful to not pitch you, usually, on the fifth day, usually on the sixth day or later, including Spring Training, rehab stretches, et cetera. Would you be able to pitch on the fifth day in Game 5 of this series?

KODAI SENGA: I'm again ready for anything. I don't anticipate getting to 100 pitches tomorrow. And how many days I have between it, it doesn't matter at this point, we need to win the game. So whenever they call on me, I'm ready.

Q. How much excitement does this series have back home in Japan with yourself, Ohtani, Yamamoto?

KODAI SENGA: I'm not in Japan, so I'm not sure. (Laughter).

Q. How do you approach pitching to Ohtani?

KODAI SENGA: I don't think any pitcher would reveal how we're going to approach an opposing hitter at this point.

Q. After this challenging year with the injuries, what's it mean to you to be contributing to the Mets at such a pivotal point in the season in the playoffs?

KODAI SENGA: More so than being glad or happy, there's definitely tension inside myself compared to the other pitchers that have fought throughout the entire year. I haven't been able to do that. So I really need to be able to contribute, continue to contribute, and do my job in the following games.