:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63758029/usa_today_12594248.0.jpg)
WHO: San Diego Padres vs. New York Mets
WHAT: Rubber match! Win the game and win the series.
WHEN: Tuesday, May 8, 2019, at 12:40 p.m.
WHERE: Petco Park
HOW: Watch on FOX Sports San Diego (or FOX Sports Go), listen on 97.3FM The Fan. Spanish broadcasts on FOX Deportes San Diego and XEMO 860AM.
WHY: Yes, “Why?” is a very good question to ask the universe when you see this:
Southpaw @MattStrahm takes the mound for our rubber match against the Mets.
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 8, 2019
Here’s today’s #Padres lineup: pic.twitter.com/0S96Ubtnvm
Ian Kinsler has mostly been terrible this season and was especially terrible last night, especially as a defender and as a baserunner. Instead of a day off, he’s once again rewarded with the leadoff spot in the starting lineup and the most at-bats for anyone else on the team today (probably).
In addition to that, this lineup construction is pretty awful. Reyes is a perfect #3 hitter, Machado is a perfect #4 hitter and Hosmer is a perfect #2 hitter. So, of course, they are hitting 2-3-4 instead of 3-4-2.
Anyway, Matt Strahm has been a revelation in his last few starts. Another one today will just further his claim as a valuable piece in this starting rotation going forward.