Sep 16, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; San Diego Padres relief pitcher Yuki Matsui (1) delivers a pitch during the sixth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
New York – The Padres walked into Citi Field Tuesday night with momentum in the playoff chase and the hope of getting right against a Mets club that’s been stumbling all month. Instead, New York came out swinging — literally — and San Diego never recovered in an 8–3 loss that opened a crucial three-game set between postseason contenders.
Michael King, still trying to find rhythm after returning from shoulder and knee injuries, ran into trouble immediately. Brett Baty capped a five-run first inning with a two-run homer, and the Mets never looked back. Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso and Cedric Mullins also left the yard, handing King one of the roughest outings of his career: eight runs, 10 hits, and four home runs allowed across just three innings.
The early hole spoiled some bright spots for San Diego. Jackson Merrill’s rookie season continues to impress — he launched a solo shot in the third for his 17th of the year. Jake Cronenworth added a blast of his own, and Freddy Fermin provided late offense with a ninth-inning homer. But the Padres couldn’t string together sustained rallies, finishing with just six hits on the night.
For the Mets, the win was about survival. They’d dropped eight straight earlier this month, their worst skid since 2018, but have now taken two in a row. They remain 1½ games clear of Arizona in a tight four-team scrum for the final NL wild card spot.
For San Diego, the bigger picture matters most. Even with the loss, the Padres still hold the NL’s second wild card, four games ahead of the Mets and comfortably in position as mid-September arrives. They remain two games back of the Dodgers in the NL West, keeping the division within reach.
The bullpen did its job after King’s exit, but Sean Manaea — once a familiar face in San Diego — shut down the Padres for five innings of one-run relief to earn the win.
It’s not the series start the Friars were hoping for, especially against a team scrapping just to stay alive. With two games left in Queens, San Diego has a chance to flip the narrative quickly. The next couple of nights won’t decide the season, but every game counts in a race where one win can shift playoff seeding and one loss can tighten the chase.
The Padres will try to bounce back Wednesday behind their reliable arms and with an offense looking to shake off a night when the Mets’ bats simply overwhelmed.
