Padres at Mets
The New York Mets and San Diego Padres are both also-rans in their respective division races but remain in contention for the National League wild cards despite sporting sub-.500 records. After completing a nine-game road trip coming out of the All-Star break, the Mets will open a six-game homestand against the skidding Padres on Tuesday night.
New York had won four in a row on its trek before dropping three of four in San Francisco, with each of the losses coming by one run in extra innings. “We’re not happy about the way this series has gone,” Mets outfielder Michael Conforto told reporters. “We had a lot of opportunities to win all those games. It’s frustrating, but all we can do is move forward.” San Diego lost seven of its first eight after the break before avoiding a three-game sweep with a 5-1 win at the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. Rookie shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. has two homers and six RBIs during a four-game hitting streak for the Padres, who are playing the final leg of a nine-game road trip.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Chris Paddack (6-4, 2.70 ERA) vs. Mets LH Jason Vargas (4-5, 4.25)
Paddack was masterful in his first outing the second half, taking a no-hitter into the eighth inning and allowing only a solo home run to beat Miami and extend his unbeaten streak to five starts. The 23-year-old rookie has allowed only two runs and six hits over his last three turns and overpowered the Mets on May 6, striking out 11 and permitting four hits across 7 2/3 scoreless innings. Paddack had been winless in his previous five road starts before dominating Miami.
Vargas ended a five-start winless drought with a strong performance at Minnesota last time out, limiting the Twins to three runs runs and five hits over six innings. A potential candidate to be traded by the deadline, the 36-year-old has been struggling to keep the ball in the park of late, allowing eight home runs over his last six outings. Vargas was pounded by San Diego for nine runs over 3 2/3 innings in April 2018 and has been tormented by Ian Kinsler, who is 25-for-67 against him.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mets 1B Pete Alonso has 33 homers but is mired in a 4-for-34 slump since winning the Home Run Derby.
2. Padres SS Manny Machado has five homers and eight RBIs in nine games since the All-Star break.
3. Conforto has hit safely in seven of his last eight games, but is 0-for-10 versus the Padres this season.