Mets manager Carlos Mendoza announced this afternoon that Kodai Senga will start Game 1 of the NLDS tomorrow afternoon against the Phillies. While the team had reportedly considered whether or not to add Senga to the roster for the series, the news still comes as a big (and pleasant) surprise.

The 31-year-old pitcher has just one Major League start to his name so far this year, returning from an extended absence to face the Braves in late July. He was dominant in that start, but suffered a calf injury that cost him the rest of the regular season. There wasn’t necessarily any expectation that he would even get back on the mound this year.

In late September, Senga made one rehab appearance for Triple-A Syracuse. He pitched only one inning during the outing and felt triceps pain afterward. Mendoza said this afternoon that Senga has increased his workload in Florida, and when asked how many pitches or innings the Mets expected from him, he was right to be a bit coy about it.

Mendoza did say that the Mets have other pitchers available to follow Senga tomorrow if needed. And he announced that Luis Severino will start in Game 2 on Sunday.