Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
Friday, July 22, 2022 • 7:10 P.M. ET
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Yu Darvish (8-4, 3.41) vs. RHP Max Scherzer (6-1, 2.22)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM • ESPN 1050
The Mets will kick off the second half of the season by hosting the Padres in Queens!
The Mets are 23 games above .500 and are in first place ahead of the Atlanta Braves who are starting their second half after a scorching hot month of June. The Phillies have also made a turn recently and they find themselves in the wild card race too. It’s going to be a fun couple of months!
The Padres are currently 10 games over .500 and are holding a wild card spot. They are 4-6 over their last 10 games. They took two of three from the Mets back when the two teams matched up in June.
Mets Lineup
And we’re back. #LGM
🆚: San Diego
💪: @Max_Scherzer
📍: @CitiField
🕕: 7:10 p.m.
📺: @SNYtv
📻: @wcbs880
🔗: https://t.co/0XbR0ddmzw pic.twitter.com/v0aIuqm36r— New York Mets (@Mets) July 22, 2022
Padres Lineup
Second half starts now! pic.twitter.com/ssz40PKOZ2
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 22, 2022
Max Scherzer will kick things off for the Mets today. Over 11 starts and 69 innings this season, Scherzer has a 2.22 ERA, 2.37 FIP, 0.884 WHIP and a 181 ERA+. Since returning from the injured list, Scherzer has made three starts totaling 19 1/3 innings with a 1.40 ERA and 0.89 FIP. He’s allowed three runs from 13 hits and a walk while striking out 31 batters. The Padres have the following numbers against him:
- Eric Hosmer 15-52, 4 2B, 2 HR, 3 BB, 15 K
- Manny Machado 8-47, 2 2B, 2 HR, 19 K
- Wil Myers 7-25, 2 2B, 3B, 2 HR, BB, 14 K
- Jorge Alfaro 4-23, HR, 12 K
- Trent Grisham 2-14, 2B, BB, 4 K
- Jake Cronenworth 0-10, BB, 3 K
Yu Darvish made 17 starts and tossed 108 1/3 innings during the first half of the season. He posted a 3.41 ERA, 3.45 FIP, 0.988 WHIP, and a 112 ERA+. In his last four games he has pitched 26 innings allowing 12 runs (3.69 ERA) from 23 hits and five walks while striking out 34. He has been more susceptible to the home run ball recently – allowing five homers in his last three starts compared to six homers in previous 14 starts.
Darvish had a terrific start against the Mets on June 7th where he held the Mets to only two hits and no runs over seven innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:
- Francisco Lindor 5-13, 2B, 2 BB, 2 K
- Starling Marte 5-14, 2B, HR, BB, 2 K
- Eduardo Escobar 3-14, 2 2B, HR, 6K
- Jeff McNeil 1-9, 2 K
- Pete Alonso 1-7, HR, 3 K
- Dominic Smith 0-5, K
- Mark Canha 1-4, K
- Brandon Nimmo 0-3, K
- Luis Guillorme 0-3, K
Game Notes
Mets have added INF/OF Travis Blankenhorn to the active roster.
Jacob deGrom will make at least one more rehab start, Taijuan Walker will pitch on Tuesday vs the Yankees, Tylor Megill is ready to play catch on back-to-back days for the first time in his rehab, and Trevor May hit 96 mph in a sim game on Thursday.
New York is 49-5 when scoring at least four runs in a game. The team’s 49 wins when scoring at least four runs is tied for second in the majors. Their .908 winning percentage when scoring four or more runs is the best in the majors.
Mets starters have gone 7-3 with 2.37 ERA (26 earned runs/98.2 innings) with 24 walks and 124 strikeouts in 17 games in July. Their 2.37 ERA is the best in The Show, while their 124 strikeouts from starters in July is the second-most in the majors.
Let’s Go Mets!
