Sean Manaea has been a quality start machine and he faces a Mets team that can struggle against lefties. Chris Bassitt has also been good and the Padres tend to struggle against righties. However, the Mets will be without two key right handed bats against the lefty in Starling Marte and Pete Alonso. The Mets are starting four lefties against Manaea tonight, I like the Padres at home.

I think this may only rise when the Mets officially announce that Pete Alonso and Starling Marte are both out -- with Marte likely headed to the IL. Both left Tuesday's loss injured. That's a lot of lost firepower as Alonso is hitting .282 with a team-high 16 homers, 54 RBIs and 61 hits. He hadn't missed a game this year. Marte is batting .277 with seven homers and 33 RBIs while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense in right field. Have to thus back the Friars behind Sean Manaea even as he has been a bit inconsistent. Counterpart Chris Bassitt has allowed at least four runs in three of his past four.

The Mets have lost consecutive games in a series just twice this season. Both of those losses have come on the road in the state of California. I expect the Padres to build off the momentum of yesterday’s shutout victory over New York. Take San Diego.