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Closer Billy Wagner is on the disabled list, and the already unstable New York Mets’ bullpen situation has gone from bad to worse. Just ask Johan Santana.
The Mets’ ace, who has had two of his last three starts spoiled by the relief corps, will try to lead his slumping team to a win Thursday afternoon in the finale of a three-game set with the San Diego Padres.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global have made New York -250 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 7.5 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 84% of bets for this game have been placed on New York -250 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
New York’s starters have a 4.02 ERA that is among the top 10 in baseball, but it’s been let down by a stumbling bullpen. The Mets’ relievers had a respectable 3.76 ERA as of July 18, but that figure has risen to 4.23 ERA – 24th in the majors – in the last three weeks.
The bullpen is 2-5 with a 7.51 ERA and four blown saves in the team’s last 15 games, and is now without Wagner, its All-Star closer. The hard-throwing left-hander was placed on the disabled list Tuesday with a strained left forearm.
Wagner’s last outing before hitting the DL was a familiar sight for Santana (9-7, 2.86 ERA). The two-time AL Cy Young winner allowed a run over 6 1-3 innings on Saturday at Houston, leaving with a 4-1 lead, but Scott Schoeneweis gave up a run in the eighth and Wagner allowed two in the ninth for his seventh blown save. New York (59-54) lost 5-4 in 10 innings.
It was the fourth time this season – and second in his last three starts – the bullpen had blown a potential win for Santana.
"Unfortunately, this game, they judge you for that, they criticize winning or losing a game," Santana said. "That’s the way it goes. It happened in the past and there’s nothing I can really do.”
Santana gave up two runs – one earned – over six innings at San Diego (44-70) on June 6 in a 2-1 loss. The Padres are hitting .237 against left-handers this season, 29th out of 30 teams.
The Mets’ bullpen was shaky again in their series opener against San Diego. New York led by four heading into the ninth on Tuesday before Aaron Heilman – 0-3 with a 13.50 in his last five games – gave up three runs in a narrow 6-5 win. On Wednesday, Pedro Martinez gave up two earned runs and a crucial David Wright error on a Brian Giles grounder led to another as the Padres won 4-2, handing the Mets their fifth loss in six games.
"There was too much english,” Wright said. "It just went right by me.”
Wright’s also been struggling at the plate lately, hitting .125 (3-for-24) in his last six games, and New York has scored 27 total runs in its last eight games.
Josh Banks (3-4, 3.65) will be on the mound on Thursday looking to give San Diego its sixth win in seven tries against the Mets, and he’s coming off one of his best starts of the season. He gave up two runs – one earned – over seven innings against San Francisco on Friday, though the Padres lost 3-2 in 10 innings.
Banks’ lone start against the Mets was another impressive outing. He allowed a run and five hits over six innings, leaving without a decision in San Diego’s 2-1 victory on June 5.
Banks is 2-3 with a 2.76 ERA in day games, while he’s 1-1 with a 4.46 ERA at night.
The Padres have won seven of eight against the Mets overall.
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