Sunday, October 9, 2022 • 7:07 P.M.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
Joe Musgrove (10-7, 2.93 ERA) vs. Chris Bassitt (15-9, 3.42 ERA)
ESPN • WCBS 880 AM • ESPN 1050

The Mets and Padres face off tonight at Citi Field for a winner-takes-all rubber game.

After getting trounced in Game 1, the Mets struck back last night. For the Mets, it was the formula they’ve used all year to win 101 games. The starting pitching did it’s job. Edwin Díaz did his job – just a few innings earlier. The Mets’ offense hit a couple of solo shots and then had a big inning to put the game out of reach. There was also some flirting with disaster when the Padres loaded up the bases at the end of the game down by four with Josh Bell at the plate. Though, New York emerged victorious and forced a Game 3.

Padres Lineup

Chris Bassitt is on the mound tonight to make sure the Mets can get a ticket to the next round. Over 30 starts and 181 2/3 innings this season, Bassitt has a 3.42 ERA, 3.66 FIP, 1.145 WHIP and a 113 ERA+. His last start in Atlanta was not great, he allowed four runs from three hits over 2 2/3 innings. In the two starts before that, though, he allowed only two runs in 14 innings of work.

He’s also had two very different starts against the Padres this year. In San Diego, he allowed seven runs from eight hits and two walks over 3 1/3 innings. Then in Queens, he held the Padres to two runs from four hits over seven innings while striking out 11 batters. The Padres have the following career numbers against him:

Mets Lineup

The Mets’ bats will have to power through Joe Musgrove tonight. Over 30 starts and 181 innings this season, he has a 2.93 ERA, 3.59 FIP, 1.083 WHIP and a 127 ERA+. Musgrove has been on quite the run to end the 2022 season. Over 22 innings over four starts he has allowed only one run from 15 hits while striking out 27 batters (0.48 ERA, 2.48 FIP). In the four games before that, he allowed 17 runs, 13 earned, over 20 innings (5.85 ERA, 6.26 FIP).

He’s only faced the Mets once this season. On July 24th, in Queens, he allowed four runs from five hits and two walks over 5 1/3 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

Games Notes

The Mets are 13-4 in Game 3 of a Postseason series. This includes going 10-3 in New York.

Chris Bassitt will make his third career Postseason start tonight. Overall, he is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA (four earned runs over 11.0 innings) with one walk and nine strikeouts in those two starts.

Queens’ native Awkawfina will throw out the first pitch.