Max Disaster

By: Mike Rifkin

The San Diego Padres defeated the New York Mets 7-1 in game one of their Wild Card series. Mets ace Max Scherzer gave up four home runs in the loss. Scherzer went 4.2 innings giving up seven runs on seven hits and four strikeouts. For the second straight start Scherzer had a bad outing. The Mets were playing from behind from the start after Josh Bell hit a two run home run in the first inning. Trent Grisham hit a solo shot in the second inning. The game got out of hand in the fifth inning where Jurickson Profar hit a three run home run and Manny Machado hit a solo home run. 

Outside of Scherzer not pitching well, the Mets offense also bears responsibility. The Mets went 1-11 with RISP and the hit didn’t drive in a run. Yu Darvish had the Mets offense in a funk as he has all season. Darvish went 7 innings giving up a run on six hits and four strikeouts. The Mets lone run came on an Eduardo Escobar home run. The Mets did get Starling Marte back off a fractured thumb. Marte had two hits and two stolen bases in his return to the lineup. 

In Game two of the series will see Blake Snell pitch for the Padres take on Jacob DeGrom for the Mets. Snell has made two prior starts against the Mets this season. On June 6th, Snell gave up four runs in four innings pitched. On July 23rd, Snell threw five scoreless innings in a Padre win. Snell went 1-1 with an ERA of 4.00. He gave up 11 hits and five walks in nine innings. Snell is 3-3 with an 2.73 ERA in six career starts against the Mets. Jacob deGrom didn’t face the Padres in 2022. In his career against San Diego deGrom is 6-3 with a 1.28 ERA and has 82 strikeouts in 70.1 innings pitched. 

If the Mets want their season to continue they will need their ace to be better than he has been his past few starts. They will also need their offense to do damage against Snell who at times will lose the plate which could work in the Mets favor. Either way Saturday night is a must win game for the Mets.