Padres at Mets
Robinson Cano was easily the biggest bust in a disappointing first half for the New York Mets, but he has finally come alive since the All-Star break. Coming off the first three-homer performance of his career, Cano looks to give his team a series win when the Mets continue a three-game home set against the reeling San Diego Padres on Wednesday night.
Cano had only four homers entering the All-Star break but has surpassed that total with five in the past nine games after becoming the 13th player in franchise history with three blasts in Tuesday's 5-2 win. Cano also collected four hits for the second time in eight contests and drove in all five runs to set the tone as New York kicked off a stretch of 16 straight games versus teams with sub.-500 records. Rookie shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. is 7-for-22 with two homers and seven RBIs during a five-game hitting streak for the Padres, who have lost eight of 10 since the break. Eric Hosmer had one of San Diego's five hits to extend his hitting streak to eight games and improve to 5-for-15 against the Mets this season.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Dinelson Lamet (0-2, 5.14 ERA) vs. Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (7-4, 4.36)
Lamet, who missed the entire 2018 campaign and the first three months this year after undergoing Tommy John surgery, made his season debut on July 4 at the Dodgers and took the loss with five innings of three-run ball. He also went five innings in his next turn at Atlanta, allowing four runs on five hits before taking a no-decision at Miami on Thursday when he permitted three runs over four innings. Michael Conforto is the only Met to face Lamet, striking out in all three at-bats.
Syndergaard extended his unbeaten streak to nine starts with a strong performance in a no-decision at San Francisco on Thursday, striking out eight and limiting the Giants to one run and six hits over seven innings. He also went seven innings in his first start after the All-Star break, giving up two runs on five hits while striking out nine. Franmil Reyes and Hunter Renfroe each had two hits in May off Syndergaard, who is 1-2 with a 4.88 ERA in four career starts versus San Diego.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mets OF Jeff McNeil collected two hits to improve to 7-for-14 against the Padres this year.
2. Tatis has 31 of his 41 RBIs away from home.
3. Mets RHP Zack Wheeler threw a simulated game Tuesday and is expected to start Friday versus Pittsburgh.