3 Mets predictions for their Wild Card Series against the Padres

3) NY Mets prediction: Chris Bassitt starts Game 2 over Jacob deGrom

Buck Showalter has been careful not to reveal what his rotation will look like. Will it be Chris Bassitt or Jacob deGrom in Game 2?

Because I am predicting a win in Game 1, it would seem the team would lean toward saving deGrom for a possible Game 3 instead. That’s no insult to Bassitt who was the team’s most reliable pitcher in a combination of ability and availability this season.

deGrom is coming off of a strange start against the Atlanta Braves in the regular season. He was both dominant and not quite himself. We won’t get to see him take on the Padres in any form because his teammates will handle business and allow him to rest up a little extra before the NLDS versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. This series would begin on Tuesday. deGrom would have plenty of rest.

An added bonus to sweeping the Padres is they could come back with deGrom, Scherzer, and Bassitt to begin the NLDS. A big part of winning in the postseason is cutting down the number of games you play. If the Mets have to stretch to a third, the opener in Los Angeles would have to be someone other than these three—unless the Mets are willing to pitch Scherzer on short rest.