PREMIUM
Rogers' NL Game of the Day *Special* (Just $25) - Won ALL 3 MLB Sides Saturday!
(MLB) San Diego vs. NY Mets,
Money Line: -174.00 NY Mets (Home)
Result: Win
Money Line: -174.00 NY Mets (Home)
Result: Win
The set-up: The SD Padres made a move to "win now" prior to the 2015 season but the team's key FA acquisitions never delivered as hoped and San Diego had pretty much ‘cleaned house' by this year's trade deadline. The 50-66 Padres will will take on the Mets Sunday afternoon in the rubber match of this three-game series at Citi Field, after New York snapped a four-game losing streak Saturday night with a 3-2, 11-inning win. Last year's NL champs celebrated as if it clinched a postseason berth after a fielder's choice grounder in the 11th gave them the win. It came two innings after closer Jeurys Familia surrendered a tying two-run homer with two outs in the ninth. The Mets are only 11-20 since the team last won back-to-back games, yet at 58-58 are still only 2 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the race for the NL's second wild card.
The pitching matchup: Clayton Richard (0-1, 6.46 ERA) will get the start for San Diego and Steven Matz (8-8, 3.60 ERA) get the nod of New York. Clayton Richard made 25 relief appearances with the Chicago Cubs before being designated for assignment back on July 26. The Padres signed Richard, who pitched for the club from 2009 through 2013, on August 5. Richard has allowed one run in 1 1/3 innings over two relief appearances for San Diego and now is being given a start. The Padres are trying to limit the innings of their starters during a stretch of 16 games in as many days. Only two current San Diego starters, Christian Friedrich and Luis Perdomo, have made 10 starts for the club this season and only one, right-hander Jarred Cosart, started a game in the majors last season. Matz lost his first start of 2016 but then won seven consecutive ones. However, he has earned just a LONE victory over his last 13 trips to the mound and will be seeking his first home win since May 20.
The pick: The Padres can't expect much from Richard in this one, while Matz has five quality starts in his last seven outings. He's deserved a better fate than his 1-5 record in that stretch (team is 1-6) but New York has scored a modest total of just 17 runs in those seven starts. The Mets have not won consecutive games since July 6-7 and last won a series back on July 22-24. Mets win today, ending both droughts. NY Mets are an 8* play.
The pitching matchup: Clayton Richard (0-1, 6.46 ERA) will get the start for San Diego and Steven Matz (8-8, 3.60 ERA) get the nod of New York. Clayton Richard made 25 relief appearances with the Chicago Cubs before being designated for assignment back on July 26. The Padres signed Richard, who pitched for the club from 2009 through 2013, on August 5. Richard has allowed one run in 1 1/3 innings over two relief appearances for San Diego and now is being given a start. The Padres are trying to limit the innings of their starters during a stretch of 16 games in as many days. Only two current San Diego starters, Christian Friedrich and Luis Perdomo, have made 10 starts for the club this season and only one, right-hander Jarred Cosart, started a game in the majors last season. Matz lost his first start of 2016 but then won seven consecutive ones. However, he has earned just a LONE victory over his last 13 trips to the mound and will be seeking his first home win since May 20.
The pick: The Padres can't expect much from Richard in this one, while Matz has five quality starts in his last seven outings. He's deserved a better fate than his 1-5 record in that stretch (team is 1-6) but New York has scored a modest total of just 17 runs in those seven starts. The Mets have not won consecutive games since July 6-7 and last won a series back on July 22-24. Mets win today, ending both droughts. NY Mets are an 8* play.
