The best pitching matchup on Friday around Major League Baseball on a nearly full schedule features Yu Darvish of the San Diego Padres facing off against Max Scherzer of the Mets from Queens. Could be a playoff preview in the National League.

The Mets come out of the break at 58-35, the second-best record in the National League, and with a 2.5-game lead over second-place Atlanta in the NL East. No question the Mets will be a playoff team. The Padres almost surely will be a playoff club as well but a Wild-Card club as they are 52-42 but 10 games behind the World Series-favored LA Dodgers in the NL West.

Nitrobetting checks out the game in this preview. Get a complete look at the game information, team and player statistics, and the latest MLB betting odds. We also deliver timely betting trends and predictions that help you secure the best picks.

Padres vs. Mets Game Information

Fresh new wallpapers for the second half. #LGM pic.twitter.com/AvuSsg9YYX

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 20, 2022

• When: Friday, July 22, 2022, 7:10 PM ET
• Where: Citi Field, Queens, NY
• TV: Bally Sports San Diego, SNY
• Radio: KWFN 97.3 (Padres) / WCBS 880 (Mets)
• Live Stream: MLB.tv
• MLB Odds: Padres (+152) / Mets (-175)

Why bet on the San Diego Padres?

Both these teams have something else in common: They are considered among the potential favorites to trade for Nationals superstar outfielder Juan Soto, who has been put on the trade block. Doesn’t mean he will be traded by the Aug. 2 deadline but there’s a decent chance. If not then, probably this offseason with Soto turning down a nearly $450 million extension from Washington.

Can you imagine a Padres lineup with Fernando Tatis Jr. and Soto? The Friars could offer young talented players such as shortstop C.J. Abrams, pitcher MacKenzie Gore and other prospects. Tatis Jr. has yet to play this season due to injury and won’t until next month. The Padres might need a boost. When they awoke on June 17, the Padres were 41-24. They had claimed first place in the NL West the day before. Then, they limped into the All-Star break by losing 18 of 29.

“We’re going to have to slug a little bit more,” manager Bob Melvin said. “Obviously, if we get Tatis back, that’ll help, but we need to be more consistent. We’ve gone through periods where we’ve found ways, we’ve moved guys over, we’ve drawn some walks, we’ve done some situational stuff. … If we’re not going to slug, we have to play clean baseball and have good, consistent at-bats and put pressure on pitchers throughout the game.

Considering the Mets played the entire first half without Jacob deGrom and much of it without Max Scherzer, they can’t be anything but pleased to have spent the past 96 days consecutively in first place.

It’s Yu Darvish (8-4, 3.41 ERA) on the mound for San Diego. Darvish earned the win last Friday over the Diamondbacks. He allowed three runs on five hits and two walks with nine strikeouts in seven innings. All three runs against Darvish came via home runs, as Ketel Marte tagged him for a first-inning solo shot and Christian Walker added a two-run blast in the fourth. After allowing six homers through his first 14 starts this year, Darvish has given up five over his last three outings. He has 13 quality starts on the season. Darvish has eclipsed the 100-pitch mark in each of his last seven starts, and he has completed seven innings on eight occasions this year. Only three pitchers have more.

Why bet on the New York Mets?

The Mets are seeking a middle-of-the-order hitter to pair with Pete Alonso, who leads the majors with 78 RBIs – a franchise record for the first half of a season. The single-season franchise record for RBI is 124 by Mike Piazza in 1999 and David Wright in 2008. Alonso leads the majors with 14 game-winning RBI and 20 go-ahead RBI this season. No Mets hitter has ever led MLB in RBIs. Owner Steve Cohen has quickly established a reputation as this generation’s George Steinbrenner. He is willing to blow past the luxury-tax threshold and is committed to bringing a world championship to Queens.

Another thing these teams have in common? They each have nine wins in extra innings, the most in the majors. New York’s .900 winning percentage (9-1) in extra-innings is the best in the majors.

It’s three-time Cy Young winner Scherzer (6-1, 2.22 ERA) for the Mets. Scherzer allowed two runs on eight hits and a walk with 11 strikeouts in 6.1 innings in a no-decision versus the Cubs last Saturday. IT was Scherzer’s worst of three starts since returning from an oblique strain. He’s racked up 31 strikeouts in 19.1 innings since his return, and he’s allowed two or fewer runs in eight of his 11 starts this year.

New York lost two of three at San Diego from June 6-8. Darvis won on June 7, throwing seven shutout innings and allowing just two hits. New York didn’t get a hit until the sixth. Darvish hit three of the Mets’ first five batters with pitches and then retired 14 straight until Mark Canha singled for the Mets’ first hit with two outs in the sixth.

Scherzer was out injured in the first Padres series. Darvish hasn’t been as good on the road so New York is the pick.

Padres vs. Mets Betting Trends

• Giants are 1-10 in their last 11 Thursday games.
• Giants are 0-5 in their last 5 during game 1 of a series.
• The total went under in 4 of San Francisco’s last 6 games against an opponent in the National League West Division division.
• Dodgers are 49-15 in their last 64 home games.
• Dodgers are 50-22 in their last 72 during game 1 of a series.
• The total went over in 4 of LA Dodgers’ last 6 games.

Padres vs. Mets Betting Prediction

Mets 4, Padres 2.

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*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.