PADRES ON DECK

Opponent--New York Mets, 4 games.

Site--San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

TV--Cable, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Radio--KFMB (760), XEXX (1420).

Records--Padres 20-17; Mets 21-17.

Record vs. Mets--2-1.

Padres update--The Padres have won four consecutive games and seven of their last nine. They failed to get 10 hits for the first in eight games Sunday but still scored six runs. In the last eight games, they’re hitting .341, and have outscored the opposition 32-16 in the last four games. Their offensive surge has given them 162 runs for the season, the third-most in the National League. The Padres also continue to lead the league with a .271 batting average and 33 home runs. Tony Fernandez, Tony Gwynn, Gary Sheffield and Fred McGriff have accounted for 188 hits, 30 doubles, five triples, 20 homers, 85 RBIs and 91 runs. In the last nine games, they’re hitting .413 with a .673 slugging percentage. They have 11 doubles, two triples, eight homers, 37 RBIs and have scored 36 runs during the stretch. The strangest statistic of the year belongs to Randy Myers, who has 11 saves, but a 5.48 ERA. In games that he pitches when Greg Harris starts, Myers is yielding a 18.00 ERA, allowing 13 hits and 10 runs in five innings. In games that Harris doesn’t start, Myers has 10 of his 11 saves with a 2.16 ERA, allowing 15 hits and four runs in 16 2/3 innings.

Mets update--The Padres will be facing the National League’s toughest rotation. Yet they might catch a break. Starter Bret Saberhagen, who has regained his Cy Young form and is throwing 95-96 m.p.h., has an inflamed index finger and might miss Wednesday’s start. He is scheduled to be examined today in New York. If he’s unable to pitch, Wally Whitehurst (0-2, 2.33 ERA) will start. The Mets have three of the top four strikeout pitchers in the National League. David Cone leads the league with 64 strikeouts, Saberhagen has 54 and Sid Fernandez has 52. Outfielder Bobby Bonilla, who has been in a dreadful slump at Shea Stadium, has been respectable on the road, batting .283. He still has not homered since opening day. Former Dodger Eddie Murray leads the Mets with 26 RBIs.

Pitching matchups--The Padres’ Bruce Hurst (2-3) vs. the Mets’ Dwight Gooden (3-3) at 7:05 p.m. today; Jose Melendez (4-1) vs. Cone at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday; Craig Lefferts (4-2) vs. Saberhagen (3-2) at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday; Harris (1-3) vs. Fernandez (2-4) at 1:05 p.m. Thursday.