Game Thread: Reds vs Mets, 7:10 PM

Wednesday, May 1, 2019 • 7:10 p.m.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Anthony DeSclafani (1-1, 4.26) vs. RHP Jacob deGrom (2-3, 4.85)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM • ESPN 1050 AM

If you’re a pessimist, yesterday’s game alternated between being disappointing and satisfying. Before the game, all we knew was Jason Vargas was going to start and if needed, Jeurys Familia was going to have to pitch a six-out save. Well, Vargas started and he was good. He allowed only one run, a homer to the last batter he faced in the sixth, going toe to toe with ace Luis Castillo. The Mets then scratched out a run and went into the eighth with a one-run lead for the rare 6-out save.

Things at this point looked good. Familia somehow got three outs on seven pitches. Things should be great. The Mets then added one more run. Fantastic. Breathing room. Into the ninth. Two quick outs. Wonderful.

And then everything collapsed and somehow over an excruciatingly long amount of time the Mets lost the lead completely. But they rallied back, got the win and now head into a pivotal game.

Mets Lineup

1. Jeff McNeil  LF
2. Pete Alonso  1B
3. Robinson Cano  2B
4. Michael Conforto  RF
5. J.D. Davis  3B
6. Brandon Nimmo  CF
7. Amed Rosario  SS
8. Tomas Nido  C
9. Jacob deGrom  P

Reds Lineup

1. Joey Votto  1B
2. Eugenio Suarez  3B
3. Jesse Winker  CF
4. Yasiel Puig  RF
5. Derek Dietrich  LF
6. Tucker Barnhart  C
7. Jose Iglesias  SS
8. Anthony DeSclafani  P
9. Jose Peraza  2B

Tonight is pivotal because the bullpen needs rest and the ace of the staff has the ability to give them said rest except he has not looked sharp as of late. Jacob deGrom is 2-3 over five starts and 26 innings this year with a 4.85 ERA, 3.70 FIP, 1.385 WHIP, and 82 ERA+. Over his last three starts, he has pitched 13.0 innings allowing 14 runs. He had one start against the Reds last year where he held them to four hits and one walk over six scoreless innings. The Reds have the following numbers against deGrom:

• Derek Dietrich 6-for-26, BB, 13 K
• Scooter Gennett 6-for-19, 2 2B, HR, BB, 6 K
• Yasiel Puig 3-for-17, 2 HR, 2 BB, 5 K
• Matt Kemp 4-for-16, 2 2B, 3 K
• Jose Peraza 3-for-9, 3 K
• Joey Votto 1-for-8, BB, 2 K

The Mets bats will try to get going against Anthony DeSclafani who is 1-1 over five starts and 25.1 innings this season with a 4.26 ERA, 5.02 FIP, 1.263 WHIP, and 106 ERA+. He’s been great in his last two starts allowing one run over 12 innings from six hits, four walks, and 12 K’s. It’s been a while since the Mets have faced Anthony. The last time was in 2016, where the Mets tagged him for three runs, two earned, off seven hits and two walks in six innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him:

• Wilson Ramos 2-for-8, 2B, K
• Michael Conforto 1-for-4, 2B
• Keon Broxton 1-for-2
• Juan Lagares 1-for-1

Game Notes

Robinson Cano returns to the lineup after missing the last two games. He was removed from Sunday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers after Gio Gonzalez hit him in his left hand.

The Mets are 3-5 vs. the NL Central this season. Last year, New York went 13-20 vs. the NL Central.

Jeff McNeil has five four-hit games in his first 91 career game. Since 1908, only one major leaguer has more, Wally Moon, had six such games in 1954 for St. Louis.

The Mets committed three errors last night. It was the third time this season the team has committed at least three errors in a game. Overall, New York has recorded 25 errors this year, the most in the NL. Only Seattle with 37 has committed more in the majors.

Amed Rosario recorded his fifth multi-hit game of the season last night. He has safely reached base in a career-best 14-straight games and has hit safely in 13 of his last 14 contests. He is batting .291 (16- 55) with four runs, two doubles, a triple, a homer, seven RBI, two steals and two walks in that span (dating to April 13).

The Mets are batting .259 (261-1009) this year. That ranks fourth in the NL and seventh in the majors…New York is sixth in the majors with a .344 OBP.

Lets Go Mets!