Max Scherzer. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Sunday, July 9, 2023 • 4:10 PM
Petco Park • San Diego, California
RHP Max Scherzer (8-2, 4.03) vs. RHP Joe Musgrove (7-2, 3.56)
WPIX

The New York Mets have a critical rubber game this afternoon against the San Diego Padres. On Friday night, the Mets won a back-and-forth, extra-inning affair. Yesterday, the Padres were able to score three runs early and the Mets could only muster one run in response.

Now, both the Padres and the Mets sit with records of 42-47. A win means going into the All-Star break only four games below .500. A win means another step toward a competitive trade deadline and second half of the season. A loss makes that door close ever so slightly more on the season.

Mets Lineup

Max Scherzer has pitched 82 2/3 innings over 15 games this season with a 4.03 ERA, 4.36 FIP, 1.198 WHIP, and a 103 ERA+. He’s coming off of a start where he allowed three home runs, leading to four runs over six innings. Before that, he allowed only five runs over 20 innings (three starts).

Scherzer had a solid start against the Padres earlier this year where he held them to one hit and no runs over five innings. The Padres have the following career numbers against Scherzer:

Padres Lineup

The Mets’ bats will try to pick themselves back up tonight against Joe Musgrove. Over 13 starts, 73 1/3 innings, Musgrove has a 3.56 ERA, 3.60 FIP, 1.200 WHIP, and a 115 ERA+. In his last three games, he has allowed only four runs over 20 innings via 16 hits while striking out 24 batters.

This is the Mets first time facing him since the Wild Card round last year where Musgrove allowed one hit and one walk – no runs – over seven innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

Game Notes

The MLB Draft begins tonight at 7:00 pm ET. Stay tuned to our social media pages and website for all Mets’ related draft updates.

Mets’ pitcher Denyi Reyes cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse. He was designated for assignment after the Mets acquired relief pitcher Trevor Gott.

The Mets hit seven home runs in their series sweep at Arizona, tied for their most in a single series this season. They also added another long ball last night. The team has hit 49 home runs in 30 games since June 4, his is the fourth-most in the majors.

The Mets have won back-to-back series for the first time since taking two out three from the Rays (May 16-18) and sweeping the Guardians (May 19-21). A win today would give New York three-consecutive series wins, last accomplished back in April, when the club won four straight series against Miami, San Diego, Oakland and Los Angeles (NL).

Max Scherzer  is 7-3 with a 2.76 ERA (35 ER/114.1 IP) and 156 strikeouts in 18 regular-season starts against the Padres. His 12.28 K/9 rate vs. the Padres is the best all-time (min. 100.0 IP).

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Musgrove’s ear. This is mostly a joke but the last time the Mets faced Musgrove in the Wild Card series, his ear looked pretty shiny. So shiny that Buck Showalter had the umpires check his ear for an illegal substance. Both teams today are playing a game with huge implications, emotions will be high. Of course, despite the stakes being higher, the Padres got the better of the Mets in an all-important three-game series.
  2. Playoff atmosphere in July? Today is must win game for the Mets. A loss can crush all the positive momentum they built up in the last week. Further, they are about to go several days without playing. Can they end a tumultuous first half on a high note?
  3. How does Francisco Álvarez close out his monster first half? Over seven games this month Álvarez has hit five home runs. He’s gone 11-for-26 at the plate, with seven runs scored. He’s slashing .423/.464/1.000 over this time showing just how impressive of a rookie season he is habving.