2 min read • October 07, 2022
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The Padres won their most games since 2010 all without star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. He is the team’s biggest loss on offense, but San Diego averaged just 0.15 less runs per game than last season.
Ha-Seong Kim has filled in admirably at short with Tatis gone with a fractured wrist and now suspended for PED use. Kim hit .251 with 11 home runs with a .982 fielding percentage.
The team’s offense was essentially carried all season by all-star third baseman Manny Machado, who finished the season with 32 home runs and 102 RBIs while hitting .298 with an OPS of .898.
Machado was bothered by a severe ankle injury in the middle part of the season, but is well past the injury now.
Starting pitcher Mike Clevinger’s status is a key storyline to monitor ahead of the best of three series in New York. Clevinger was scratched from his start on the season’s final day with an illness and the team is reportedly still awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test.
He was a longshot to start one of the potential three games, but would be a key bullpen arm if available.
Yu Darvish (16-8 with a 3.10 ERA) will start Game 1 and allowed just 8 earned runs across 6 starts in September and October. Joe Musgrove (10-7 with a 2.93 ERA) will likely start Game 2.
Only Jacob deGrom truly knows how much his supposed blister on his right middle finger will affect him when he takes the mound in the Wild Card series against the Padres.
deGrom exited his last start Sept. 30 in the 6th inning with the finger injury, but he and manager Buck Showalter have downplayed its importance since and said him exiting was precautionary.
Showalter named Max Scherzer as the Game 1 starter, possibly to give deGrom an extra day of rest before he likely takes the mound in Game 2.
Outfielder Starling Marte suffered a fractured right middle finger on Sept. 6 and his finger remains immobilized.
The Mets are reportedly still waiting for swelling to go down and he is still experiencing discomfort when throwing and swinging.
His ongoing finger problems do not bode well for his availability early in the playoffs, according to the Pro Baseball Docs. However, if the Mets advance to the Divisional Round, he may have a chance to return.
Marte hit .292 with 16 home runs, 63 RBIs and 18 stolen bases on 27 attempts in 2022.
Darin Ruf is also on the 10-day IL with a neck strain, retroactive to Tuesday. Ruf was acquired from the Giants in early August, but the neck strain may limit his availability in the Wild Card round or beyond.
To replace Ruf’s spot on the regular season roster, the Mets called up their No. 1 overall prospect in Francisco Alvarez. It remains to be seen if Alvarez will make the postseason roster.
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