Philadelphia sports fans have an ugly reputation. They are notoriously vile towards opposing players and fans, and lean into what they view as their role as supporters. But New York Mets ace Kodai Senga, who will start Game 1 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday, isn’t concerned.
Not only is Senga unbothered by the potentially hostile atmosphere, but like Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly before him, he’s looking forward to it.
Kodai Senga smiles when asked about dealing with a raucous Philadelphia crowd at Citizens Bank Park tomorrow:
"I'm looking forward to it." pic.twitter.com/jg43YRlMnj
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) October 4, 2024
That smile tells you everything you need to know.
Of course, part of Senga’s smile is likely due to the mere fact that he’s pitching at all. He missed four months of the season as the result of a shoulder injury. Upon his return in July, he suffered a calf injury in his first game back and hasn’t played since.
When the Mets announced Senga would be their Game 1 starter against the Phillies, it came as a shock to most.
What better way to get back into the thick of things than a playoff start against the Phillies in Philadelphia? Although Senga should be careful about what he wishes for because a riled-up Philly crowd is tough to navigate.
