Mets Game Preview: (6/3/21) @ San Diego Padres (34-23)

The New York Mets take on the varsity of their west coast trip as they face the San Diego Padres. This is the first of seven games between both teams that will be played within the next 11 days. The first pitch for the Mets’ toughest series of the season is set for 10:10 p.m. ET from Petco Park.

The Mets took two out of three against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but it came tougher than expected. After an easy victory in game one, the next two games were each decided by a run. Francisco Lindor has gotten his bat going over the last five games by going 9-for-23 and has gotten back to driving the ball to all fields. Even if Fernando Tatis Jr. is not playing, there will be plenty of comparisons between the two high-paid shortstops.

The Padres are in the midst of a four-game losing streak which includes a three-game sweep to the Chicago Cubs. Tatis Jr. also suffered an oblique injury, but it does not seem to be anything serious. He is not likely to play during tonight’s game, but we should expect to see him back by the third or fourth game. Even without Tatis Jr., there is plenty of big bats in the Padres lineup. Jake Cronenworth is one of the best they have, hitting .282 with a team-leading 60 hits.

Pitching Matchup

Taijuan Walker takes the mound after a terrific start off the IL. He hurled five shutout innings with just two hits allowed and eight strikeouts. Walker has become the steal of the offseason during the first couple of months of the season. His ERA is a season-low 1.84, which is fifth in all of baseball.

Yu Darvish is the Padres starter and looks to bounce back from a rare bad start. He allowed five runs (four earned) in five innings against the Houston Astros, and it pushed his ERA over two. On the year, Darvish has a 2.16 ERA in 11 starts and has 79 strikeouts.

Matchups To Lookout For

Taijuan Walker vs. Manny Machado: 2-for-12 (.167), Walk, 2 Strikeouts

Yu Darvish vs. Francisco Lindor: 4-for-7 (.571), Double, 2 Walks