Mets at Padres
The New York Mets hope to put the first half of their six-game road trip behind them and turn around their fortunes when they begin a three-game series against the host San Diego Padres on Monday. New York suffered a 3-2 loss in Milwaukee on Sunday that completed a three-game sweep during which it scored a total of six runs.
Juan Lagares homered and Amed Rosario accounted for half of the six hits recorded by the Mets, who have lost five straight on the road. Rosario went 5-for-15 in the series against the Brewers and has hit safely in eight of his last nine games. San Diego nearly suffered a fate similar to that of New York over the weekend, as it was one out away from dropping three consecutive one-run decisions to the Los Angeles Dodgers before pinch-hitter Hunter Renfroe belted a grand slam on Sunday for an 8-5 victory. Franmil Reyes, who also went deep in the win, is riding an eight-game hitting streak and is one hit away from 100 for his career.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FS San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Jacob deGrom (2-3, 3.82 ERA) vs. Padres RH Chris Paddack (2-1, 1.91)
If his last outing is any indication, deGrom has bounced back from a rough three-start stretch during which he went 0-3 while surrendering 14 runs on 18 hits and eight walks over 13 innings. The 30-year-old reigning National League Cy Young Award winner scattered three hits over seven scoreless frames against Cincinnati on Wednesday but was forced to settle for a no-decision. DeGrom has posted a 1.66 ERA in six career starts versus San Diego but owns just a 3-2 record.
Paddack has posted deGrom-like numbers over his first six major-league starts, limiting opponents to a .126 batting average while registering 35 strikeouts against only nine walks in 33 innings. The 23-year-old rookie from Texas has won back-to-back outings, including a triumph at Atlanta on Tuesday in which he allowed two runs and four hits over six frames. Paddack, who will be facing New York for the first time, gave up three hits or fewer in each of his first five turns and has issued more than one free pass on just one occasion.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Mets are dealing with health problems to their starting rotation as Jason Vargas exited Sunday's contest with a tight left hamstring while fellow LHP Steven Matz is returning to New York to have nerve irritation in his left forearm examined.
2. San Diego placed Trey Wingenter (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list and recalled fellow RHP Phil Maton, who retired all four batters he faced on Sunday, from Triple-A El Paso.
3. New York recalled RHPs Tyler Bashlor and Tim Peterson, who combined to work 3 2/3 scoreless innings on Sunday, from Syracuse while optioning RHP Chris Flexen and LHP Ryan O'Rourke to the Triple-A affiliate.