Overview

• Tong struck out eight over five innings with one unearned run to clinch the series over the Padres and push the Mets’ lead for the final NL Wild Card to two games over the idle Diamondbacks.
• Pete Alonso homered for a fourth straight game, Brandon Nimmo hit a three-run shot, and Juan Soto logged his 100th RBI as the Mets posted their first series win since early September.
• The Mets are riding three rookie right-handers in the rotation under a plan that preserves each pitcher’s core strengths while adding analytics-driven tweaks, according to player-development chief Andy Greene.
• Nolan McLean has a 1.19 ERA and 40 strikeouts over his first six big-league starts, and Brandon Sproat, who debuted less than two weeks ago, remains part of the rotation and is slated to face the Nationals next.
• Coaches limited Tong to 82 pitches after meetings that stressed rebound habits and veteran guidance, including perspective from Sean Manaea, and the 22-year-old retired his final eight hitters without a walk.