New York will try to keep its season alive when it hosts San Diego in the second game of the National League Wild Card series on Saturday night. The Padres got off to a blazing start on Friday, tagging New York starter Max Scherzer for seven runs in a 7-1 final. They have a chance to punch their ticket to the NLDS on Saturday.
San Diego made a statement on Friday night, lighting up one of the best starters in MLB history. The Padres took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning when first baseman Josh Bell hit a two-run home run off Scherzer. They would add four more homers over the next four innings, opening the floodgates in the blowout. Meanwhile, San Diego starter Yu Darvish threw seven innings of one-run baseball, allowing the Padres to manage their bullpen to perfection. San Diego’s offense finished the regular season ranked No. 16 in the majors in batting average, hitting at a .241 clip.
Mad mashin'#CaptureTheMoment pic.twitter.com/qVEcNQSCHh
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 8, 2022
The Padres are facing a New York pitching staff that is No. 7 with an ERA of 3.57. Left-handed pitcher Blake Snell is going to get the nod for San Diego on Saturday afternoon. He allowed one run on three hits and one walk with six strikeouts in six innings against the White Sox last Sunday. Snell has allowed one earned run or fewer in six of his last seven starts, lowering his ERA from 4.14 to 3.38. His 12.2 K/9 ranks second among pitchers with at least 70 innings this season. He posted a 0.72 ERA and 0.64 WHIP in 25 innings during his final four starts of the regular season.