The Padres return to Petco Park on Friday trying to snap a season-worst, five-game skid with Fernando Tatis Jr. in right field for just the third time since May 16 and none of the new additions in the lineup.

First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. on Padres.TV.

City Connect Friday. pic.twitter.com/PBhQF1i2Ry

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) June 5, 2026

Jase Bowen had starts in each of his first two games in the majors but did not start on Thursday and is not starting on Friday as Bryce Johnson is in left field. Samad Taylor has not started a game yet.

The switch-hitting Johnson (.560 OPS) will bat seventh, ahead of second baseman Sung-Mun Song (.482 OPS) and catcher Rodolfo Durán (.475 OPS).

Johnson also started on Thursday as he’s starting in back-to-back games for the first time this season.

Gavin Sheets (.806 OPS) will serve as the DH and bat second, ahead of third baseman Manny Machado (.619 OPS), first baseman Ty France (.855 OPS), center fielder Jackson Merrill (.621 OPS) and shortstop Xander Bogaerts (.662) OPS).

Here is how the Mets will line up to start a three-game series:

📍 SD #LGM pic.twitter.com/KsZ7gCz7FG

— New York Mets (@Mets) June 5, 2026

 

Friday’s pitching matchup

Mets RHP Christian Scott (1-0, 2.97 ERA)

The 26-year-old rookie is seven starts into the season after losing all of 2025 to an elbow reconstruction. He had a 4.56 ERA in nine starts (47⅓ IP) in 2024 and has a 38-to-16 strikeout-to-walk ratio (30⅓ IP) to start this year. Righties have an .864 OPS against Scott this year, compared to lefties’ .542 OPS. This will be Scott’s first appearance against the Padres. He also does not have any history with current Padres.

Padres RHP Michael King (4-4, 3.18 ERA)

He allowed a season-high five runs in six innings in taking the loss on Sunday in Washington. His two strikeouts in the game were a season low. King has a 2.67 ERA in six Petco Park starts so far this season. King has a 5.40 ERA in 20 innings (7 games, 3 starts) against the Mets, which includes a loss as a Padre in each of the last two years (8 IP, 9 ER).

Here is how King has fared against current Mets: