The San Diego Padres travel to Citi Field to take on the New York Mets on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, with first pitch set for 7:10 PM ET. Robbie Ray gets the ball for San Diego against New York's Zac Thornton in what shapes up as an intriguing pitching contrast — a veteran lefty against a pitcher making his way in the bigs. With the regular season in its stretch run, every game on the road carries real weight for the Padres, and this one is no exception. Fans can catch the action on Padres.TV Presented by UC San Diego Health or listen in on KWFN 97.3.

Padres at Mets: Tuesday, August 18, 2026 Game Preview

Pitching Matchup: Robbie Ray vs. Zac Thornton

Robbie Ray is San Diego's starter on the mound Tuesday night. Ray, a left-handed pitcher with a track record of generating strikeouts and eating innings, gives the Padres a legitimate option at the top of their rotation when he's locked in. The Padres will need Ray to work deep into the game, keep the Mets offense off balance, and give the bullpen some breathing room — particularly on the road where San Diego can't lean on the energy of Petco Park.

On the other side, the Mets send Zac Thornton to the hill. Thornton is a name worth watching but one where the statistical record available heading into this game is limited. That uncertainty cuts both ways — it can work in the Padres' favor if hitters haven't seen him much, but it also means San Diego's lineup will need to stay disciplined early, work counts, and let the at-bats develop rather than chasing early in the count against an unfamiliar arm.

Keys to Watch for the Padres

• Ray's command: If Ray locates his fastball and mixes his secondary pitches effectively, the Padres have a chance to control the game from the first inning. Walks and early trouble are the risk to monitor.
• Patience against Thornton: Facing a pitcher without a deep major league track record, the Padres' lineup should prioritize working deep counts. Making Thornton throw pitches and expose his command will be critical.
• Road execution: San Diego is away from Petco Park, which means the crowd and environment work against them. Staying composed in big moments at Citi Field is a must for this roster.
• Bullpen management: The longer Ray can go, the better positioned San Diego's bullpen will be. Overextending relievers on the road in August is a recipe for trouble down the stretch.

Prediction

This game hinges on whether Robbie Ray brings his best stuff to New York. If he does, the Padres have enough in their lineup to generate runs against the relative unknown of Zac Thornton and come away with a win. San Diego has the experience edge in this pitching matchup, and that matters on a Tuesday night in August when road wins are hard to come by. Expect a competitive, lower-scoring game — and lean Padres if Ray settles in early. Edge: San Diego.