Mets Open Critical Series with Padres

The New York Mets are on the road and will begin a critical four-game series with the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Thursday night. This series has massive playoff implications, particularly involving the National League wild-card race.

Currently, San Diego is tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the first N.L. wild-card spot. Both teams are 72-56. New York is currently in the hunt as they are a game and a half behind the Atlanta Braves for the third spot.

New York leads the season series with San Diego 3-0 when they swept them at home back in June. They can hold the tiebreaker if they win one of the four games should that come into effect by the end of the regular season. However, winning games is more important than ever at this point.

As for pitching matchups, veteran right-hand pitcher Luis Severino (8-6, 3.91 ERA) will start for the Mets. He had an excellent outing last time against the Miami Marlins on Saturday, Aug. 17 when he threw a complete game shutout only giving up four hits, and he struck out eight batters.

Severino's counterpart will be Padres ace Dylan Cease (12-9, 3.46 ERA). The 28-year-old right-hander is coming off a win in his last outing against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday. He went five and two-thirds innings allowing three runs on three hits, striking out five batters. He has thrown a no-hitter this season last month, which was the Padres' second one in team history.

Here are the lineups for both teams

New York Mets
1.) SS Francisco Lindor
2.) 3B Mark Vientos
3.) LF Brandon Nimmo
4.) 1B Pete Alonso
5.) DH Jesse Winker
6.) 2B Jose Iglesias
7.) C Francisco Alvarez
8.) RF Jeff McNeil
9.) CF Tyrone Taylor
SP Luis Severino

San Diego Padres
1.) DH Luis Arraez
2.) LF Jurickson Profar
3.) 1B Jake Cronenworth
4.) 3B Manny Machado
5.) 2B Xander Bogaerts
6.) CF Jackson Merrill
7.) RF David Peralta
8.) C Luis Campusano
9.) SS Mason McCoy
SP Dylan Cease

How to watch

The first pitch is scheduled for 9:40 p.m. ET. Mets fans can watch it on SNY. They can also listen to it on WCBS 880 and WINS 92.3 FM HD2.