IGT, NYM@SDP, 2026-06-05

[Edgy MD]

After a day and a half off, the Mets report to San Diego for a series opener featuring Christian Scott against Michael King.  King has been a mainstay at the top of Padres rotation for a few years after being wasted int he bullpen by the Yankees, and he kind of does it old-school with control and guile rather than malicious stuff.  Two seamers and four seamers, changing speeds and switching sides of the plate, inducing soft contact, and hard to wait out.

He even looks kind of shlubby and prematurely middle-aged like a 1970s Padres rotation mainstay.

Can't you picture that guy nestled into a rotation between Randy Jones and Bob Owchinko?

Christian Scott has been mostly Christian Hott over his last five starts, but has had trouble getting through the fifth, so he has only one decision (a win).  With the Mets best relievers well rested following the Seattle series ending in the blowout and a long break in between, look for Mendoza to again be quick with the hook.

[Frayed Knot]

Pads started the year 19-9 but are 13 -19 since including 1-8 over their last nine with an afternoon game in Philly starting in a few minutes. The only problem with that 1-8 stretch is that seven of those losses came vs NLE squads. First they got swept by the Phils in SD. They then flew east and lost 2 of 3 to the Nats followed by two straight in Philly. Both losses in the Vet [insert name] Bank Park were by 3-2 scores which kind of sums up the Padre offense: it's not good.

Manny Machado is 'slashing' .172/.263/.344 // 607 and he's played every day so I'm going to assume he's not hurt. Tatis Jr (who I noted was playing 2B when I checked in last night) has ONE HR and an Isolated Slugging figure of .054 (lg avg is about triple that). CF Jackson Merrill currently sports a 604 OPS following seasons of 826 & 774 ... and the NOffense doesn't end there. Overall the Pads are in a virtual three way tie for last place in RS/G at 3.85 (SF & KC = 3.84) six slots and 0.2 RS/G behind the Mets. And when you're looking up at the 2026 Mets and find yourself saying, 'Damn, I wish we had their offensive prowess, you've pretty much hit rock bottom.

[Edgy MD]

The weird part about Tatis is that he is still right around his career batting average and walk rate.  It's just that his power that has disappeared.

In this era, when guys fade, it's usually a case of him still getting the occasional homer, but all the other numbers are cratering.

[Frayed Knot]

61 hits this year for Junior, 52 are singles

[Centerfield]

Tatis Jr was suspended for PED's in August of 2022.  Prior to that suspension, he had a .975 OPS (.965 over his first three years).  He hit 42 HR's in 2021.

Since then, his HR totals have been 25, 21, and 25.  His OPS has similarly dipped (.787 in the four years since).  He's only 27 years old, so it's unlikely he will continue to have a .674 OPS, but we're seeing a tale of two completely different hitters.

When he signed that 14 year deal, we know San Diego was thinking he'd be more like the pre-suspension guy than the player he's been since.  It's about to get ugly.  This is his last year of $20M.  After this, he's paid two more years at $26M per year.  Followed by 6 years of $37M per year for his age 30-35 seasons.

His name was floated out there last winter.  Like "Hey, what would it take to get Tatis Jr. from the Padres."

The answer is "a sucker".    

[Frayed Knot]

SDP would have to eat so much money in a Tatis trade that it would make the Texas/ARod bill look tame in comparison. And if a cap and/or increased disincentives to spend do wind up being part of the next CBA then dealing him might become near impossible.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Wait'll Soto tests positive

[Edgy MD]

The Mets certainly have a history of taking on guys who have their suspension days presumably behind them.  It allows them to dictate terms at some level for declining (and disgraced) assets their teams want to unload (or their agents can't find buyers for), but obviously they can't dictate the results.  And the results have been mixed.

[Frayed Knot]

Another SD twist is that they've just DFA'd Nick Castellanos one a day after he got a nice tribute upon his return to Philadelphia. Like much of the Padre hitters, Castellanos was hitting poorly: .191/.221/.339 // 560

[Centerfield]

For what it’s worth, Petco is a tough ballpark to hit in. 

[Edgy MD]

2 hours ago, Frayed Knot said:

Another SD twist is that they've just DFA'd Nick Castellanos one a day after he got a nice tribute upon his return to Philadelphia. Like much of the Padre hitters, Castellanos was hitting poorly: .191/.221/.339 // 560

Sadly but predictably, it turns out that the Rob Thomson/Nick Castellanos feud ended up with no winners.  Rob Thomson is out of a job and Castellanos doesn't seem far behind.

[Centerfield]

How much longer until game time 

[Frayed Knot]

The earth needs to spin slightly more than 1/8 of its full rotation yet before everything is aligned for game time.

And then tomorrow it will be an even longer wait.

[Edgy MD]

1 hour ago, Centerfield said:

How much longer until game time 

Worst apathy ever?

But put a quarter in the lineup machine and out comes the following, with Lutherville, MD's own Gavin Sheets suddenly somehow the best hitter in the Padres' lineup, and two rookies at the bottom of the group with sub-.500 OPS's.

METS

Starting Pitcher:

Christian Scott RHP 1-0, 2.97 ERA, 38 SO

Lineup:

1. Carson Benge (L) RF
2. Bo Bichette (R) SS
3. Juan Soto (L) LF
4. Jared Young (L) 1B
5. A.J. Ewing (L) CF
6. Marcus Semien (R) 2B
7. Brett Baty (L) 3B
8. MJ Melendez (L) DH
9. Luis Torrens (R) C

SAN DIEGO

Starting Pitcher:

Michael King RHP 4-4, 3.18 ERA, 65 SO

Lineup:

1. Fernando Tatis Jr. (R) RF
2. Gavin Sheets (L) DH
3. Manny Machado (R) 3B
4. Ty France (R) 1B
5. Jackson Merrill (L) CF
6. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS
7. Bryce Johnson (S) LF
8. Sung-Mun Song (L) 2B
9. Rodolfo Durán (R) C

[Edgy MD]

Once more, with OPSes. 

1. Fernando Tatis Jr. (R) RF
   • .663
2. Gavin Sheets (L) DH
   • .806
3. Manny Machado (R) 3B
   • .619
4. Ty France (R) 1B
   • .855
5. Jackson Merrill (L) CF
   • .621
6. Xander Bogaerts (R) SS
   • .662
7. Bryce Johnson (S) LF
   • .560
8. Sung-Mun Song (L) 2B
   • .483
9. Rodolfo Durán (R) C
   • .475

Like with the Mets, Rodolfo Durán is a backup catcher who still provides enough defensive value to be a net positive even when he is barely hitting.

Unlike with the Mets, he didn't become the de facto regular due to an injury, but due to the initial first stringer (Freddy Fermin) producing really, really badly.

[Edgy MD]

If Carson Benge is going to be a leadoff hitter, he can't be starting off the inning by swinging 2-0.

[Edgy MD]

Fernando Tatis is suddenly like that incel support group I meet up with — 96% singles.

[Edgy MD]

"You're a good fastball hitter — jump on it." — Keith Hernandez to Jared Young

"KaBOOM!" — Jared Young

[Edgy MD]

Michelle Margaux gets a second-straight series in the GUYS! role.

[Edgy MD]

Bo Bichette with an RBI triple!

He's a single, double, and a homer short of the cycle!

[Edgy MD]

And Soto costs the Mets a run by jogging down the line as Song misplays his grounder.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Soto's nonexistent hustle costs Mets a run

[Edgy MD]

"Gee, that guy really dogs it down the line." — George Foster to Bobby Bonilla

[Edgy MD]

What's the patch on the side of the Mets' hats?

[Edgy MD]

"Bye-bye, Ordóñez Line!!" — Luis Torrens

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Thankful we have superstars like Young + Torrens

[Edgy MD]

Notably and blatantly, as Soto grounded out to Song in virtually the same exact spot, he dogged it again, possibly even more.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

I'm old enough to remember when Ewing was good

[Edgy MD]

Craig Stammen is the first reliever-turned-manager I can think of since ... Tommy Larsorda?

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Mickey?