The Mets begin their four-games series with the Padres one and a half games out of a playoff spot, and four games behind the Padres themselves, who currently are tied for the first Wild Card spot in the National League. Remember how hot the Mets were in June and early July? That’s been the Padres since the All-Star Break.
With just seven losses since then, the Padres have taken advantage of a soft schedule to beat up on teams like the Rockies, Pirates, Nationals, and Marlins, but also showed their offensive prowess against the Dodgers, Twins, and Orioles.