Mets and Padres Square Off in Primetime in MLB Playoff Wild Card Round Action
By Charles Jay
The 2022 MLB Playoff Wild Card Round is here. The New York Mets opened up the pocketbook this past season. Owner Steve Cohen, perhaps the richest in baseball, has absolutely insisted that he will do whatever is necessary to bring his team a championship.
Well, here they are.
But the Mets have an obstacle in their path, in the form of the San Diego Padres, who will line up against them in Game 1 of the National League wild card series at Citi Field (8:07 PM ET). Max Scherzer takes the mound for the Mets, while Yu Darvish, who’s been on a roll, gets the assignment for the Padres.
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MLB Playoff Betting — Here are the numbers…
And speaking of odds, here they are on this MLB playoff game:
New York Mets (Scherzer) -145
San Diego Padres (Darvish) +135
Over 6 Runs -120
Under 6 Runs +100
Padres +1.5 Runs -190
Mets -1.5 Runs +160
MLB Playoff Betting — Darvish would like to hand the ball to Hader
Darvish (16-8, 3.10 ERA) lost his last start to the Chicago White Sox, but he was on a hot streak entering that game, having won six consecutive decisions. In fact, the Japanese import was named National League Pitcher of the Month, surrendering 23 hits and eight ruins in 39 innings (1.85 ERA). He has a 0.95 WHIP ratio for the season. Only once in his last 15 starts has he allowed more than three earned runs in a game.
In 16 of his 30 starts, he has gone six innings or less. So the question of how far Darvish can actually has to enter into the equation.
Before he was acquired in the trade with Milwaukee, Josh Hader struck out 59 batters in 34 innings. With the Padres, his strikeout rate, while not bad, has taken a nosedive. And he has a 7.31 ERA in 19 appearances for San Diego. HOWEVER, in his last twelve games, he’s yielded just five hits and one earned run, with a 0.79 ERA as hitters have SLUGGED .154 against him.
MLB Playoff Betting — Can the Padres score enough runs?
There are threats – or at least would-be threats – throughout the San Diego lineup. There are also guys who have hit under .200. But the guy who have been worth the big bucks – and we say this despite his occasional lack of hustle – is Manny Machado, who had 32 homers and 102 RBI’s, with an OPS of .898.
It goes without saying that Juan Soto has been a disappointment for the Padres after the trade from Washington. Six homers and 16 RBI’s in 52 games will attest to that. But he’s still going to get his walks (44 of them) and he’ll get on base, and that is something the Mets will have to account for as long as this series lasts.
MLB Playoff Betting — Mets have a pitching plan
What manager Buck Showalter would like to do is win Game 1. Well yes, of course he does. But his rationale is that he might not have to use Jacob deGrom in this series, and if he can accomplish that, he’d love it. That way, Max Scherzer and deGrom will be able to account for three starts between them against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.
If the Mets lose, then deGrom might have to be deployed to avoid elimination. That would upset overall plans. If the Mets win, Chris Bassitt would go in Game 2.
As for Scherzer as a proposition for Game 1, well, let’s just say that if money was no object for Cohen, he’s getting his money’s worth. The three-time Cy Young winner has actually posted his lowest career ERA at the age of 38. And his strikeout-walk ratio is over 7-1. Max has gone seven innings on eight different occasions. We imagine Showalter might push him to that limit, especially if it looks like he’s on his “A” game.
MLB Playoff Betting — Our conclusion
You have to recognize what Hader did as this season came down the stretch. Really, it was just a couple of very bad outings that ballooned that ERA. Still, we trust the Mets’ bullpen combo of Edwin Diaz (0.839 WHIP, 1.31 ERA, 32 saves, and the music) and Adam Ottavino (2.06 ERA, 0.975 WHIP) a little more.
The Mets also have more balance in their lineup. Pete Alonso tied Aaron Judge for the MLB lead in RBI’s. Francisco Lindor topped the 100-RBI mark. And Jeff McNeil led the NL in batting average.
What might intrigue here is the Scherzer-Soto matchup, as Juan has been retired only twice in six appearances by his former teammate (three walks and a homer). But Scherzer has been the master of Machado, holding the MVP candidate to eight hits in 50 at bats (.160 average), with 20 strikeouts and NO walks.
We’re content riding the future Hall of Famer, who’s got 21 postseason starts under his belt.
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