%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20868.5%20200%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%20868.5%20200%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cstyle%20type%3D%22text%2Fcss%22%3E%0A%09.st0%7Bfill%3A%23231F20%3B%7D%0A%09.st1%7Bfill%3A%23002B74%3B%7D%0A%09.st2%7Bfill%3A%23FF4A00%3B%7D%0A%09.st3%7Bfill%3A%23FFFFFF%3B%7D%0A%3C%2Fstyle%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Template%22%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Layer_2%22%3E%0A%09%3Cg%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M126.5%2C145.2c-2.7-6-2.9-15.2-4-24.9c-0.3-2.9-2.4-14.8-8.1-21c-5.6-6.2-12.7-8.7-13.8-9.4%0A%09%09%09c10.2-3.8%2C16.4-8.6%2C20.3-15.9c6.7-13%2C7.3-27.3-5.1-39.7c-3-3-7.6-5.4-13.7-7.5c-23-8.1-62.7%2C2.5-83.7-4.4%0A%09%09%09c-6.7-2.2-7.9-7.1-8.7-10.8c-0.6-3.5-5.2-0.6-7%2C2.1C0.1%2C18-3.1%2C27.3%2C6.3%2C33.9c11.3%2C7.9%2C47.2%2C4.4%2C69.6%2C4.8%0A%09%09%09c24.1%2C0.3%2C27.9%2C18.7%2C18.7%2C35.4c-7.1%2C12.5-23.7%2C11.6-26.4%2C10.8c1.1-3.8%2C9.4-28.9%2C10.3-32.2c1.8-5.6-2.4-9.7-7-8.4%0A%09%09%09c-6.2%2C2.1-5.1%2C4.9-25.2%2C10c-6.8%2C1.7-3.6%2C5.7-1.7%2C9.4c0.6%2C1.1%2C0.5%2C3.3%2C0%2C5.6c-0.3%2C1.3-14.1%2C48.7-18.3%2C61.1%0A%09%09%09c-1.3%2C3.7-3.3%2C4.6-5.9%2C6.5c-5.7%2C4-6.8%2C9.7%2C0.8%2C9.7c12.1-0.2%2C23.2%2C0%2C34.5%2C0c3%2C0%2C5.1-1.4%2C5.2-4.4c0-5.2-6.2-5.2-6.3-8.3%0A%09%09%09c2.4-9.5%2C6.8-27.1%2C9.7-36.4c8.7-0.6%2C15.6%2C1.4%2C20.2%2C4.8c5.7%2C4.1%2C6.3%2C12.7%2C6.7%2C16c0.9%2C11.1%2C1.6%2C26.7%2C4.6%2C35.2%0A%09%09%09c2.1%2C5.7%2C5.2%2C11.3%2C10.3%2C14c13%2C6.8%2C29.4%2C1.3%2C34.9-2.2c4.3-2.4%2C5.6-5.6%2C4-8.4C143%2C153.3%2C132.7%2C158.9%2C126.5%2C145.2z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M162.4%2C65.8c6.5%2C0%2C12.4-4.9%2C13.2-11.1c0.9-6.3-3.7-11.3-10-11.3c-6.5%2C0-12.4%2C4.9-13.3%2C11.3%0A%09%09%09C151.5%2C60.9%2C155.9%2C65.8%2C162.4%2C65.8z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M275.2%2C65.8c6.5%2C0%2C12.4-4.9%2C13.2-11.1c0.9-6.3-3.7-11.3-10-11.3c-6.5%2C0-12.4%2C4.9-13.3%2C11.3%0A%09%09%09C264.3%2C60.9%2C268.7%2C65.8%2C275.2%2C65.8z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M465.2%2C110c0.9-2.1%2C2.2-6.8%2C0.5-8.6c-2.7-2.9-8.1-1.9-10.3%2C1.9c-3.8%2C6.8-8.6%2C22.9-17.5%2C23.5%0A%09%09%09c-1.4%2C0.2-2.5-0.3-3.5-1.3c-0.8-1-1.3-2.5-0.3-7.9c2.1-7.1%2C3-10.6%2C4.3-14c3-8.9%2C5.7-15.7%2C6.7-17.6c3-5.7%2C4.4-6.7%2C4.8-9.2%0A%09%09%09c0.5-1.9-0.8-3.2-2.1-3.5c-3-0.6-4.8%2C1.6-9%2C2.2c-5.2%2C1-14.1-1.1-14.6%2C2.2c-0.8%2C5.4-2.5%2C9.7-5.1%2C16.8c-6.8%2C20.5-9.4%2C26-9.9%2C27.9%0A%09%09%09c-8.6%2C21-18.6%2C13.3-17.3-0.3c0.5-4.8%2C1.3-10.6%2C3.2-16.5c5.1-15.2%2C10.2-20.8%2C16.4-21c2.4%2C4.1%2C8.9%2C2.7%2C9.4-2.4c0-3.8-3-7.5-12.9-6.7%0A%09%09%09c-17.2%2C1.2-33.8%2C15-39.4%2C33.4c-3.9%2C8.4-8.3%2C19.8-15.1%2C18.8c-3.2-0.3-3-4.8-2.2-8.6c0.5-2.9%2C4.6-15.4%2C4.8-22.5%0A%09%09%09c0.2-8.9-5.9-19.2-18.4-19.7c-5.1-0.2-9.5%2C2.2-13.5%2C5.4c1.3-1.9%2C1.9-2.9%2C2.2-4.6c0.2-1.8-1.1-3.2-2.1-3.3c-3-0.8-4.9%2C1.6-9%2C2.2%0A%09%09%09c-5.4%2C0.9-14.3-1.1-14.9%2C2.2c-0.8%2C5.2-2.2%2C9.7-4.9%2C16.8c-2.2%2C5.9-4.2%2C11.5-6.2%2C17.1c-3.3%2C6.9-7.4%2C14.4-13.3%2C15%0A%09%09%09c-1.4%2C0-2.5-0.3-3.5-1.4c-1.1-1.3-1.6-4.6%2C1.1-13.3c4.1-13%2C8.3-23.7%2C9.5-26.2c2.9-5.7%2C4.4-6.5%2C4.8-9.2c0.3-1.9-1-3.2-1.9-3.3%0A%09%09%09c-3.2-0.8-4.9%2C1.4-9.2%2C2.2c-5.4%2C1-14.3-1.3-14.8%2C2.1c-0.8%2C5.4-2.2%2C9.7-4.9%2C16.8c-1.1%2C3-3%2C8-4.6%2C12.5c-2.3%2C5.2-6%2C12.4-12.2%2C17.7%0A%09%09%09c-0.8%2C0.6-2.1%2C1.4-3.5%2C2.1c1.6-7.8-2.5-16.5-13-23.2c-2.9-1.9-6-3.7-8.7-5.4c-3.5-2.2-4.6-5.9-3.6-10.2c1.6-7.5%2C13.7-6.7%2C15.7-3.3%0A%09%09%09c-2.7%2C1.7-5.7%2C4.9-5.9%2C8.4c-0.2%2C5.7%2C4.3%2C10.6%2C10%2C10.8c10%2C0%2C14.4-10.2%2C11.3-18.3c-3.5-8.9-13.3-12.1-22.7-12.4%0A%09%09%09c-9-0.3-18.3%2C1.4-26.4%2C6.5c-7.3%2C4.6-10.5%2C10.9-11.1%2C17.5c-0.1%2C1.4%2C0.2%2C2.6%2C0.4%2C3.8c-0.8%2C0.6-1.5%2C1.3-2%2C2.2%0A%09%09%09c-3.8%2C6.8-8.7%2C22.9-17.5%2C23.7c-1.4%2C0-2.5-0.3-3.5-1.4c-1.1-1.3-1.6-4.6%2C1.1-13.3c4.1-13%2C8.3-23.7%2C9.5-26.2%0A%09%09%09c2.9-5.7%2C4.4-6.5%2C4.8-9.2c0.3-1.9-1-3.2-1.9-3.3c-3.2-0.8-4.9%2C1.4-9.2%2C2.2c-5.4%2C1-14.3-1.3-14.8%2C2.1c-0.8%2C5.4-2.2%2C9.7-4.9%2C16.8%0A%09%09%09c-2.1%2C5.7-7.1%2C19-7.6%2C20.8c-1.4%2C4.6-2.4%2C11.3-2.4%2C13.5c0%2C5.2%2C1.3%2C8.6%2C2.4%2C10.2c6.9%2C9.3%2C23.6%2C11.2%2C40.5-7.8%0A%09%09%09c-0.4%2C6.4%2C3.8%2C10.8%2C9.4%2C12.7c7.6%2C2.4%2C17.1%2C2.4%2C18.3%2C2.4c13.2%2C0.2%2C24-1.6%2C36.7-9.5c2.2-1.4%2C4.1-2.9%2C6-4.4c0.4%2C3.1%2C1.1%2C5.5%2C2%2C6.6%0A%09%09%09c5.5%2C7.5%2C17.4%2C10.2%2C30.6%2C1.2c0.1%2C2.8%2C2.3%2C5.3%2C5.3%2C5.3h13.3c2.2%2C0%2C4.3-1.6%2C5.1-3.8c5.1-14.1%2C8.9-26.7%2C14.3-39.5%0A%09%09%09c1.7-4.1%2C4.3-8.6%2C6.2-11.3c4.9-6.8%2C14.1-9.2%2C10%2C3.8c-6.7%2C21.1-13%2C36.2-7.1%2C44.5c7%2C9.6%2C24.5%2C11.1%2C41.8-9.4c1.2%2C3%2C2.7%2C5.7%2C4.9%2C8%0A%09%09%09c9.2%2C9.7%2C22.5%2C8.4%2C31.1%2C3.2c-0.6%2C2.4-1.3%2C5.1-1.7%2C7.5c-9.8%2C42.5-37.5%2C30.6-34.3%2C20.5c5.9%2C1.6%2C12.7-1.1%2C12.5-8.2%0A%09%09%09c0-5.6-6-9.9-12.4-6.5c-3.5%2C1.7-3%2C3.2-5.2%2C3c-9.4-1.1-24-2.2-29.5-2.5c-15.9-1.1-37.5-2.9-50.5-1.6c-4.1%2C0.3-21%2C3.3-21.4%2C16.4%0A%09%09%09c-0.5%2C7%2C4.4%2C13.5%2C12.1%2C14.5c12.4%2C1.9%2C19.7-9.9%2C30-12.5c11.4-2.9%2C33-5.4%2C53.8-3.2c-1.1%2C6.5%2C0.2%2C13.8%2C3%2C18.3c3.8%2C6.2%2C10%2C9.7%2C18.9%2C11%0A%09%09%09c21.3%2C2.9%2C33.3-14%2C37.5-22.9c4.8-10.3%2C7.5-20.5%2C7.5-20.5l2.2-9c8.4-0.5%2C18.9-5.9%2C29.2-19.8C462.1%2C118.1%2C463.4%2C114.3%2C465.2%2C110z%0A%09%09%09%20M204.7%2C137.8c-3.5%2C0.9-6-0.3-7-4c-0.6-2.2-1.7-6.7-5.9-9.2c-1.8-1-5.2-1.7-8.4-0.7c3.1-4.6%2C4.6-7.8%2C5.8-10.7%0A%09%09%09c7.9%2C7.2%2C19.5%2C12.3%2C19.7%2C17.6C209.1%2C134.6%2C207.5%2C137%2C204.7%2C137.8z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M589.9%2C158.3c-2.4-2.8-12.1%2C1.8-18.1-11.3c-0.3-0.7-0.6-1.4-0.9-2.1C558.7%2C115.5%2C550.8%2C47%2C549.7%2C30%0A%09%09%09c1-1.6%2C2.1-3.5%2C2.5-4.8c2.5-5.9-2.2-10.6-6.2-8.7c-6.5%2C2.4-3.2%2C4-24.1%2C9.8c-7.1%2C2.1-3.8%2C6.5-1.7%2C10.6c0%2C0.3%2C0.3%2C1.4%2C0.6%2C3%0A%09%09%09c-2.4%2C4-53.7%2C87.7-57.3%2C92.3c-2.1%2C2.9-4.1%2C3.5-6.5%2C5.7c-3.8%2C3.5-3.8%2C8.7%2C2.5%2C8.6c1.7%2C0%2C17.3%2C0%2C25.6%2C0c2.9%2C0%2C4.6-2.9%2C4-5.6%0A%09%09%09c-0.6-2.5-3.8-5.4-3.8-6.2c0-6.3%2C5.7-16.7%2C7.6-20c1.4-2.4%2C4.6-2.7%2C7.6-2.7c6.2%2C0.2%2C21.7%2C0.3%2C30.3%2C0.3c1.6%2C8.6%2C5.9%2C30.9%2C10.2%2C42.9%0A%09%09%09c2.1%2C5.7%2C5.2%2C11.3%2C10.3%2C14c3.4%2C1.8%2C6.9%2C2.7%2C10.5%2C3c10.2%2C1%2C20.3-2.7%2C24.5-5.3c0.5-0.3%2C0.8-0.6%2C1.2-0.9c3.2-2.3%2C4.1-5%2C2.7-7.5%0A%09%09%09C590.1%2C158.4%2C590%2C158.4%2C589.9%2C158.3z%20M523.7%2C58.5c2.7%2C22.2%2C3.5%2C28.7%2C4.8%2C39.9l-28.1%2C0.2C504.6%2C91.1%2C516.5%2C70.6%2C523.7%2C58.5z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M559.7%2C178.4c-2.6%2C7.8-4.5%2C13.4-4.8%2C14.4c-1.3%2C3.5%2C1.4%2C7.1%2C5.1%2C7.1h13c2.2%2C0%2C4.3-1.4%2C5.1-3.7%0A%09%09%09c2.3-7.2%2C4.4-14.2%2C6.6-21.2c-5.2%2C2.2-12%2C3.9-19.2%2C3.9C563.6%2C179.1%2C561.6%2C178.7%2C559.7%2C178.4z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M864.3%2C47.9c-3.8-10.3-10.8-21.4-28.1-32.1c-9.2-5.7-20.8-8.4-31.3-9.5C763.5%2C2%2C721.1%2C24.1%2C684.1%2C31.2%0A%09%09%09c-9.7%2C1.9-30.2%2C0.6-31.8-12.2c-0.6-5.4-1.4-11.1-4.8-14.8c-5.1-5.2-15.9-5.9-23.2-0.5c-16%2C11.9-5.6%2C34.9%2C11%2C44.6%0A%09%09%09c14.1%2C8.1%2C31.1%2C7%2C43.2%2C4.8c47.2-8.7%2C84-35.6%2C127.3-31.9c42.1%2C3.7%2C55.4%2C42.4%2C43.8%2C73.7c-4.4%2C10.8-10.9%2C20.2-20.2%2C26.7%0A%09%09%09c-5.2%2C3.5-11.6%2C6.2-19.1%2C5.6c-3.3-0.3-7.3-2.4-8.7-5.2c8.7-3.3%2C27.9-11.3%2C34.9-22.5c7.6-11.9%2C1.6-24.3-16-23.5%0A%09%09%09c-21.6%2C1-39%2C17.2-44.2%2C33.9c-3.7%2C8.2-8%2C18.3-14.6%2C17.6c-5.4-0.6-0.8-13.8-0.8-13.8c2.7-8.4%2C17.6-52.9%2C23.3-70.8%0A%09%09%09c1.4-4.6-2.1-8.1-5.9-7c-5.2%2C1.7-4.3%2C4.1-21.1%2C8.4c-5.7%2C1.4-3%2C4.8-1.4%2C7.8c0.8%2C1.6%2C0%2C5.4-0.8%2C8.1c-2.5%2C7.2-11%2C31.1-16%2C45.2%0A%09%09%09c-1.7%2C3.9-5.6%2C14.2-14.5%2C21.5c-1.6%2C1.3-5.4%2C3.6-8.3%2C3c3.5-4.1%2C5.7-7.1%2C8.7-13.8c3.3-7.3%2C4.9-14%2C3.5-22.1%0A%09%09%09c-1.3-7.9-8.4-15.4-17.6-15.9c-5.2-0.3-11.4%2C0.2-15.9%2C0.9c0-0.3%2C0.2-0.5%2C0.2-0.8c0.3-1.7-1-3-2.1-3.3c-3-0.6-4.9%2C1.6-9%2C2.2%0A%09%09%09c-5.4%2C1-14.3-1.1-14.8%2C2.2c-0.5%2C3-1.3%2C5.7-2.2%2C8.9c-0.2%2C0.7-2.9%2C8.6-6.6%2C19.7c-2.1%2C4.9-6%2C12.9-13.3%2C18.9c-1.6%2C1.3-5.4%2C3.6-8.3%2C3%0A%09%09%09c3.5-4.1%2C5.7-7.1%2C8.7-13.8c3.3-7.3%2C4.9-14%2C3.5-22.1c-1.3-7.9-8.4-15.4-17.6-15.9c-5.2-0.3-11.4%2C0.2-15.9%2C0.9%0A%09%09%09c0-0.3%2C0.2-0.5%2C0.2-0.8c0.3-1.7-1-3-2.1-3.3c-3-0.6-4.9%2C1.6-9%2C2.2c-5.4%2C1-14.3-1.1-14.8%2C2.2c-0.5%2C3-1.3%2C5.7-2.2%2C8.9%0A%09%09%09c-0.4%2C1.1-7.7%2C23.1-15.6%2C46.7c1.2%2C3.5%2C2.3%2C6.8%2C3.5%2C9.5c2.5%2C5.6%2C5.1%2C5.8%2C8.8%2C6.2c1.5%2C0.1%2C3.5%2C0.4%2C5.4%2C1.3c0.8-2.7%2C1.7-5.4%2C2.5-8.1%0A%09%09%09c3.8%2C1.6%2C7.8%2C2.9%2C12.1%2C3c5.1%2C0.3%2C10.2-0.6%2C14.1-2.4c10.4%2C4.8%2C20.9%2C1.3%2C29.5-4.9c-8.5%2C25.4-17%2C51.1-17.8%2C53.5%0A%09%09%09c-1.3%2C3.5%2C1.4%2C7.1%2C5.1%2C7.1h13c2.2%2C0%2C4.3-1.4%2C5.1-3.7c5.7-18.3%2C11-35.6%2C16.4-52.7c3.8%2C1.6%2C7.8%2C2.9%2C12.1%2C3%0A%09%09%09c5.1%2C0.3%2C10.2-0.6%2C14.1-2.4c13%2C6.1%2C26.1-0.9%2C35.6-10.1c0.5%2C2.3%2C1.1%2C4.3%2C1.9%2C5.3c6.7%2C9.2%2C23.5%2C11%2C40.4-7.9c2.9%2C9%2C10.2%2C14.8%2C22.7%2C15%0A%09%09%09c30%2C2.2%2C54.8-21%2C63.8-44.3C868.9%2C85.8%2C871.3%2C65.7%2C864.3%2C47.9z%20M623.2%2C115.5c-9.8-0.6-16%2C9-12.4%2C17.9c-3.6%2C2.2-8.1%2C3.6-10.9%2C1.1%0A%09%09%09c-1.7-1.4-0.6-4.4-0.3-6.8c2.7-8.6%2C5.6-16.5%2C7.6-23.3c6.7-15.6%2C13.2-18.3%2C15.6-18.4c3.5%2C0%2C7.1%2C1.7%2C6.8%2C8.2%0A%09%09%09C628.7%2C101.9%2C626.2%2C108.2%2C623.2%2C115.5z%20M700.5%2C115.5c-9.8-0.6-16%2C9-12.4%2C17.9c-3.6%2C2.2-8.1%2C3.6-10.9%2C1.1c-1.7-1.4-0.6-4.4-0.3-6.8%0A%09%09%09c2.7-8.6%2C5.6-16.5%2C7.6-23.3c6.7-15.6%2C13.2-18.3%2C15.6-18.4c3.5%2C0%2C7.1%2C1.7%2C6.8%2C8.2C706.1%2C101.9%2C703.5%2C108.2%2C700.5%2C115.5z%0A%09%09%09%20M810.8%2C88.1c5.4-4%2C12.4-4.1%2C12.6%2C1.3c0.3%2C10.8-15.6%2C19.5-24%2C23.5C799%2C104.9%2C801.7%2C94.4%2C810.8%2C88.1z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
5 most important players in the Mets vs. Padres Wild Card Series ranked
The New York Mets will take on the San Diego Padres in the Wild Card round to open up their first trip to the postseason since 2016. It wasn’t what we had planned only a few weeks ago. Hopefully, it just gives us some extra games and a week and the Los Angeles Dodgers have to give the excuse that they went cold because of the bye.
Both of these clubs have some very important players on the roster. But who is the most important?
It’s these five who stand out as the most important to their team winning the series. How they perform can completely alter the feel of the series.
5) NY Mets vs. SD Padres: Why Blake Snell is important
The lefty starter on the Padres likely to get the ball this series, Blake Snell is someone that can absolutely shut down the Mets. It’s not just the fact that he’s a southpaw and they seem to go silent against lefties. Take a look at his second half numbers.
Snell was 1-5 with a 5.22 ERA in the first half before completely turning things around for the finale. He was 7-5 with a 2.19 ERA post All-Star Game in 14 starts. He was the exact kind of pitcher the Mets wouldn’t want to face.
This is a series where the games could very well come down to who starts for the ball club. Based on the performance of the regular season Mets, Snell should have an advantage. We’ll need the righties to step up and the lefties to maybe lean into a couple of inside fastballs.
4) NY Mets vs. SD Padres: Why Juan Soto is important
Juan Soto didn’t have the effect on the Padres that they had hoped. He didn’t quite trigger the offense in the way they had hoped he would but they have a bigger plan in place. San Diego was hoping to win this year with Soto with the intentions of maybe doing it again in the future.
The importance of Soto is vast in this series. Will he step up and start crushing pitchers more consistently as he was meant to or will the Mets find a way to tame this beastly slugger?
The fact that the Mets have questions from the left side of the mound could be a challenge. It will be up to the right-handed relievers most to get him out. There’s no stud southpaw they have we can have faith will retire Soto in a big seventh or eighth inning at-bat.
3) NY Mets vs. SD Padres: Why Yu Darvish is important
Another Padres pitcher on this list, Yu Darvish is Kryptonite to the Mets. He wrapped up the regular season with a 16-8 record and 3.10 ERA. A more important number, he is 3-0 with a 2.00 ERA in 4 career starts at Citi Field. This does include plenty of past Mets squads but it showcases how strong he has been—holding batters to only a .177 batting average in Flushing.
Darvish has been one of the league’s best pitchers for most of his career. He does have postseason experience, most memorably from the 2017 season as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers when he got knocked around in the World Series after two strong performances prior.
A veteran still clearly capable of leading his team to victory, if he’s able to shut down the Mets, it’s going to put New York in a big hole early.
2) NY Mets vs. SD Padres: Why Jacob deGrom is important
I don’t need to tell you, Mets fan, why Jacob deGrom is so important to this team. Even if he pitched a perfect game the last time he stepped on the mound, the circumstances would be the same. A strong performance from deGrom is essential in the Wild Card Series not only to restore faith from fans in him but also to give the Mets a far more serious shot at success.
It’s in a three-game series where the Mets should have no roadblocks. They were built to easily withstand a shorter series. They have only little room for error. If deGrom does his job, at least one of the other two starters should do theirs.
deGrom was 5-4 with a 3.08 ERA in 11 regular season starts which is hardly what we would have expected from him. In 15 starts last year, he had an ERA of 1.08. His walks per nine and strikeouts per nine are exactly the same, however. Should we be concerned? We might want to feel a little timid but remain confident.
1) NY Mets vs. SD Padres: Why Max Scherzer is important
Max Scherzer sneaks in just ahead of deGrom for importance in this series. After all, this is exactly why the Mets signed him. He is supposed to help ease any concerns we may have about deGrom. Far more tested in the playoffs, he absolutely needs to win his start.
There’s no spotlight too big for Scherzer. Already 128.2 innings of playoff pitching experience, he has made regular appearances in the playoffs throughout his career. Last season was with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Two years before that, he won a championship with the Washington Nationals.
Scherzer will leave everything he can on the field. It’s games like this he was built to win. A dud performance from him and your least favorite negative Mets fan on Twitter will never shut up.