Preview: Padres at Mets
Gracenote
Jul 25, 2018
The two worst teams in the National League have nothing to play for, but one ugly streak will end when the New York Mets host the San Diego Padres on Wednesday afternoon in the rubber match of a three-game set. New York has a chance to put an end to a 17-series winless drought dating to mid-May while the Padres can snap an 0-9-1 skid in their last 10 series.
The Mets rebounded from a series-opening 3-2 loss with a 6-3 victory Tuesday as Michael Conforto swatted a two-run homer and Devin Mesoraco added a three-run double. Conforto is 7-for-14 with two homers and six RBIs since the All-Star break, production New York will need with Yoenis Cespedes (heels) going back on the disabled list and facing potential season-ending surgery. Wil Myers drove in all three San Diego runs Tuesday and is 7-for-18 with one homer and six RBIs during a four-game hitting streak since the break. Manuel Margot also had two hits and has hit safely in six straight for the Padres, who haven't won a series since taking two of three at St. Louis (June 11-13).
TV: 12:10 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Clayton Richard (7-9, 4.82 ERA) vs. Mets RH Corey Oswalt (0-2, 5.64)
Richard has followed a four-start winning streak with a five-start drought, falling to 0-3 during that span after he was tagged for seven runs in a season-low three innings at Philadelphia last time out. He continues to battle control problems, walking 18 batters over 20 innings in four starts in July. Asdrubal Cabrera is 8-for-16 versus Richard, who tossed 6 2/3 innings of three-run ball in a loss to the Mets in April.
Oswalt is still in search of his first career win as he prepares to make his sixth major-league appearance and fifth start. The 24-year-old had to settle for a no-decision last time out despite allowing one run on two hits over five innings versus Washington, and took the loss against Philadelphia in his previous turn after yielding three runs on only one hit. Oswalt owns a 3.27 ERA in his two starts at Citi Field.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Mets announced after Tuesday's game that they are awaiting a second opinion on Cespedes.
2. Padres 3B Christian Villanueva is 1-for-14 since the All-Star break.
3. Mets INF Jeff McNeil, called up from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday, had a pinch-hit single in his first major-league at-bat.
PREDICTION: Padres 5, Mets 3
Gracenote
Jul 25, 2018
The two worst teams in the National League have nothing to play for, but one ugly streak will end when the New York Mets host the San Diego Padres on Wednesday afternoon in the rubber match of a three-game set. New York has a chance to put an end to a 17-series winless drought dating to mid-May while the Padres can snap an 0-9-1 skid in their last 10 series.
The Mets rebounded from a series-opening 3-2 loss with a 6-3 victory Tuesday as Michael Conforto swatted a two-run homer and Devin Mesoraco added a three-run double. Conforto is 7-for-14 with two homers and six RBIs since the All-Star break, production New York will need with Yoenis Cespedes (heels) going back on the disabled list and facing potential season-ending surgery. Wil Myers drove in all three San Diego runs Tuesday and is 7-for-18 with one homer and six RBIs during a four-game hitting streak since the break. Manuel Margot also had two hits and has hit safely in six straight for the Padres, who haven't won a series since taking two of three at St. Louis (June 11-13).
TV: 12:10 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Clayton Richard (7-9, 4.82 ERA) vs. Mets RH Corey Oswalt (0-2, 5.64)
Richard has followed a four-start winning streak with a five-start drought, falling to 0-3 during that span after he was tagged for seven runs in a season-low three innings at Philadelphia last time out. He continues to battle control problems, walking 18 batters over 20 innings in four starts in July. Asdrubal Cabrera is 8-for-16 versus Richard, who tossed 6 2/3 innings of three-run ball in a loss to the Mets in April.
Oswalt is still in search of his first career win as he prepares to make his sixth major-league appearance and fifth start. The 24-year-old had to settle for a no-decision last time out despite allowing one run on two hits over five innings versus Washington, and took the loss against Philadelphia in his previous turn after yielding three runs on only one hit. Oswalt owns a 3.27 ERA in his two starts at Citi Field.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Mets announced after Tuesday's game that they are awaiting a second opinion on Cespedes.
2. Padres 3B Christian Villanueva is 1-for-14 since the All-Star break.
3. Mets INF Jeff McNeil, called up from Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday, had a pinch-hit single in his first major-league at-bat.
PREDICTION: Padres 5, Mets 3