Although the Los Angeles Dodgers can relax briefly while preparing for the beginning of the NLDS next Tuesday, there’s still the matter of determining which team they’ll face, as the Mets and Padres fight for the right to advance through the 2022 postseason’s wildcard series.
While many fans seemingly have different opinions as to which team the Dodgers match up better against, the consensus this year appears to be that the Padres are a more ideal matchup. In head-to-head games this season, the Dodgers defeated San Diego 14 times in 19 games. In contrast, Los Angeles only beat New York three times over seven contests.
Even though the Mets lost considerable ground in the NL East during the final few weeks of the regular season, the thought of facing Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer in the NLDS makes some fans cringe. The Dodgers did not face their former teammate Scherzer this year, but they lost once the only time they squared off against deGrom.
In addition, facing New York would require travelling to the East Coast for at least one contest, where the weather has already begun to change, often dipping into the upper 40s on the cooler nights.
Although we know that Scherzer will be squaring off against Yu Darvish in the Wild Card opener, the Mets are still unsure who they’ll run out against Blake Snell in Game 2. Some reports have suggested that righty Chris Bassitt will start Game 2, saving deGrom for Game 3.
Nevertheless, the Mets were 10-10 in games started by their star duo after deGrom came off the injured list on August 2, with neither rising to the challenge against the Braves last weekend in Atlanta.
And, while the Padres haven’t been exactly setting the baseball world on fire offensively as of late, they have enough talent to be dangerous this year if the right players start heating up at the right time.
As far as regular season stats go, the Mets finished seventh in the majors with a combined 3.57 team ERA, while the Padres finished 11th at 3.81. It may also be worth noting the Mets finished 10th in the majors in team bullpen ERA while the Padres ended up 14th.
As we all know, the Dodgers ended up first in overall team ERA and combined starting pitching ERA this season while finishing second to the Astros in combined bullpen ERA.
Regarding run production, the Mets finished fifth in the MLB with 772 runs scored while the Padres ended up 13th with 705 runs. The Dodgers led the entire league with a whopping 847 runs scored.
Still, if either team gets hot at just the right time, the Dodgers could possibly have their hands full by the time Tuesday rolls around.
It would definitely be better to have Padres knock Mets out and have Dodgers face Padres. The Padres are inferior to the Mets in both pitching and offense as you point out. However all teams in the playoffs are dangerous.
I think, in order to play it safe, we just skip the rest of the games, and go straight to the parade.
Whichever team wins it all this year will have had to go through quite a lot to get there.
There is no playing it safe; especially when it comes to our blood pressure.
Pads could be dangerous since they feel they have something to prove after being bulldozed by LA during the season. Mets offense does not scare me that much. Especially without Marte who did a lot of the damage in the Mets four wins over LA. deGrom has been hammered his last several outings. And he so far is not scheduled to pitch unless the series goes three. So I am hoping they beat each other up, have a couple of extra inning games and game three is a nail biter. No rest, come into LA and lose the first two.
Marte is in the lineup tonight.
No Mets = Cakewalk for Dodgers. Dodgers trash the Padres in 4. Padres might get game 3 at home. Game 1 and 2 will be easy Dodger wins. Game 4 will be close game which the Dodgers will likely win. If there is a game 5 in LA Dodgers will win for sure. Padres beat a slumping Mets team. Dodgers won’t miss the travel to Queens to deal with crappy winter weather. Winter already started there, especially at night(some times day too). As for the Mets in 2023 they will be lucky to get to 80 wins. This team might break up. Not liking what I am hearing there.
I really hope the Dodgers aren’t as overconfident as some of the Dodger fans seem to be. SD has something to prove and the fact that the Dodgers have owned them over the past couple of seasons could all go out the window in a short playoff series.
Mets beat the Dodgers 10 of 11 in 1988 during the season and we all know how that turned out.
Dodger fans tend to turn their intense dislike of the Padres into the idea that they can’t possibly beat us. I’m not going down that road, although we certainly have to be favored.
I’m confident in my Dodgers yet reserved in my comments. We’ve handled their pitchers all year but they have some good ones and our offense wasn’t great the last week. I expect Vargas to contribute when he gets his chance. Our cheerleader Alberto probably should be dressed rather than K machine Gallo. If our pitching follow a regular season success we will be fine.
Just had second cataract surgery today so will be watching with right eye tonight.
If that works, you’ll have to keep your left eye shut for the rest of the playoffs.
Maybe 😂. You are not too superstitious are you!
Not me.
Although I haven’t changed my underwear since opening day. 🙂