This National League playoff race is an absolute doozy. Both the San Diego Padres and the New York Mets are in the thick of the Wild Card Race. While the Padres continue to fight for the NL West, the Mets are simply trying to stay alive with a tenuous grasp on the third and final Wild Card spot. To say that this series is essential to deciding the National League playoff picture would be an understatement; it’s absolutely crucial.
The two sides enter dead even as -110 moneyline favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. The total is set at nine runs. Let’s dig into a preview, prediction, and best bet for this Padres vs. Mets matchup.
Padres at Mets prediction, preview
It’s been a rough year for Padres starter Michael King in terms of health. King went down in mid-May with a right shoulder nerve injury and was unable to return until August. Due to rushing back from injury, King made only one start before his knee flared up, causing him to miss another month. Tuesday’s contest will be his second start back from his injury debacle.
When he has been on the mound, King is one of the best starters in baseball. He does it with command and elite breaking balls, racking up big strikeout totals while keeping his average exit velocity down. But don’t take it from me; this breakdown by Dan Plesac of MLB Network says it all.
His opposite number is another interesting pitching story. Clay Holmes, the onetime Yankees closer, is looking to do something few pitchers can say they did: finish their first season as a starter after converting from a reliever. Holmes has more than doubled his career high in innings pitched, and though results have waned in the second half, making it all the way through the year without being moved back to the bullpen is a significant accomplishment.
However, this does not line up nicely for the Mets. They’ve been one of the worst teams in baseball over the second half of the season. Holmes has been part of that struggle as he went from a strong rotation piece to a liability. If King looks like his usual self, it’ll be another crushing blow to New York’s playoff hopes.
