The goal of MLB to create exciting playoff races with more teams playing meaningful games well into September was accomplished this season. The expanded field and new playoff format gets underway Friday with the NL’s top wild card New York Mets hosting the San Diego Padres in the opener of a best-of-three set from Citi Field. It remains to be seen how the Metropolitans will handle the situation. On one hand they made the playoffs, but on the other they led the NL East nearly the entire season before falling behind Atlanta. There isn’t much time to dwell on what could’ve been with the Padres in town.
The NL Wild Card encounter between the San Diego Padres and New York Mets takes place on Friday, October 7, 2022 from Citi Field in Queens, NY. The game will air live nationally with betting options for every 2022 MLB postseason game available at BookMaker.eu.
Padres at New York Mets Odds
San Diego Padres (Check Back Later)
New York Mets (Check Back Later)
Total (Check Back Later)
Odds Analysis
Playoffs and the Padres do not go hand in hand. The club is making its first postseason appearance in a full season since 2006 and just its seventh overall in more than five decades of existence. So you can see why they are fans of the expanded format. They would have made the dance under the previous format finishing as the second wild card with their most wins since 2010 when they won 90 games losing out on the NL West by two games and the wild card by one game.
The Pads went all in at the deadline acquiring Juan Soto in a blockbuster with Washington. The thought was the club would have an explosive offense with Soto, Manny Machado and the return of Fernando Tatis Jr. However, Tatis was banned for using an illegal substance and it seemed to affect the group. The offense never performed at a level most expected and Soto struggled hitting .240 with six homers in 51 games. San Diego had the better of the regular season series winning four of six games. The clubs last met at the end of July with the Pads winning two of three at Citi Field. However, they’ve won just four of the previous 11 games in New York since 2018.
It’s crushing for the Mets having led the division for nearly the entire season only to come up short at the end. They have no one to blame but themselves. The division crown was up for grabs over the weekend with the Mets having Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer starting. The aces failed to get a win and the Mets were swept, essentially putting them into the wild card round. So at this point you have to wonder about their mental state entering the playoffs.
Getting knocked from the division race a day before the end of the regular season may actually turn out to be a good thing. Buck Showalter said he would use deGrom on short rest in the finale if the Mets still had a chance. Turns out they didn’t need him on Wednesday and will instead likely throw him on the bump for Game 1. And getting home field advantage should help. The Mets won 66.7 percent of their games at Citi Field, one of the highest percentages in MLB.
Probable Pitchers
Based on recent results the Padres have an advantage on the hill if this pitching matchup takes place. Yu Darvish (16-8, 3.10 ERA) won double digit games for the first time since 2017 matching his career-best set during his rookie season. He was particularly effective during September with the club chasing a playoff berth. He went 5-1 with a 1.85 ERA over 39 innings of six starts to earn Pitcher of the Month honors. And Darvish has been solid against the Mets in two starts winning both while posting a 0.64 ERA and 0.50 WHIP allowing one run and six hits with a walk and 15 strikeouts over 14 innings.
Normally the Mets wouldn’t think twice about giving the ball to Jacob deGrom (5-4, 3.08 ERA) after making a triumphant return from injury. Back in the rotation at the start of August deGrom was vintage with a 1.66 ERA and 63 strikeouts over his first 43.1 innings. However, his last four starts have been awful with at least three runs allowed in each, a 1-3 record and 6.00 ERA. Opponents hit .247 off him in that stretch with six balls leaving the yard. San Diego was deGrom’s favorite opponent last year allowing four hits in 13 shutout innings with 21 strikeouts in back-to-back starts against them.
Padres at New York Mets Predictions
I’m not sure what’s up with deGrom, but if any team can heal him it’s the Padres. His mastery over them is almost legendary and as they say good pitching stops good hitting. And it absolutely shuts down mediocre hitting. Despite his recent struggles I’m backing the home team with runs scarce.
Prediction: New York Mets / UNDER
