Game 2 Preview: Padres @ Mets

The Padres will try to get in the win column for the first time this season as Clayton Richard toes the rubber tonight at Citi Field. Richard was the most reliable pitcher on the Padres staff last season, going 14-14 and not missing a single one of his 33 starts. The Padres will need more of that reliability after Edinson Volquez' performance on Opening Day.

Richard is coming off a strong Spring Training start last Thursday when he kept the Indians to one earned run on five hits, a walk, and six strikeouts. He ended his Spring with a 5.30 ERA over 18 2/3 innings. Against the Mets, Richard boasts a lifetime 2.84 ERA in five starts and tonight he will try to improve on a 2-1 record over them.

New York starter Matt Harvey hasn't had the same success against San Diego. He has only made one previous start against the Padres, giving up five runs in five innings during his rookie season last year. Tonight's outing will mark the beginning of Harvey's first season in the majors so he'll try to get off on the right foot.

In Harvey's start against the Padres last year, Yonder Alonso gave him a lot of trouble. He went 2-for-3, including a double and a two-run home run against Harvey. On Monday, he went 1-for-4 and hit a home run off Jon Niese. Hopefully that was just the start of a breakout year for Alonso.