Padres Visit Mets with Playoff Berth Secured, rotation Questions Loom
NEW YORK – The San Diego Padres arrive at Citi Field this week already locked into the postseason, but with questions surrounding their starting rotation as they prepare for October baseball. The New York Mets, meanwhile, continue to navigate a late-season evaluation period focused on young pitching prospects. The three-game series begins Thursday afternoon.
This series presents a stark contrast in team objectives. San Diego (82-68) clinched a Wild Card spot and will use the remaining regular season games to fine-tune their playoff approach. For the Mets (66-84), the focus is on development and assessing the future, particularly within their pitching staff.
Thursday, September 18: Jonah Tong vs. Dylan Cease, 1:10 PM EDT on SNY
Jonah Tong (2025): 11.2 IP, 13 K, 7 BB, 3 HR, 8.49 ERA,6.06 FIP, 207 ERA-
Tong has not officially been announced for Thursday, but with the team returning to a five-man rotation, this is likely his turn to pitch. He will look to rebound from a disastrous start against the Rangers on Friday, where he failed to escape the first inning, allowing six earned runs on four hits and three walks. Tong, 22, displayed visible emotion after the outing, a reminder of his limited experience – only two Triple-A starts – and the pressure of contributing to the team’s postseason aspirations.
Dylan Cease (2025): 157.0 IP, 201 K, 66 BB, 20 HR, 4.59 ERA, 3.56 FIP, 112 ERA-
Cease has experienced some regression in his second season with the Padres after a strong first year that saw him finish fourth in the NL Cy Young voting and 22nd in the NL MVP race. However, he recently reached 200 strikeouts for the fifth consecutive season, demonstrating his durability and consistency. Cease has won his last two starts, both against Colorado, allowing one earned run on five hits over six innings in his most recent outing against the Rockies, and one earned run on four hits in five innings at Coors Field.
Following Thursday’s matchup,the series continues Friday and Saturday with times to be resolute.
