9/22/19 Game Preview: New York Mets at Cincinnati Reds

The New York Mets (80-74) are officially out of wiggle room in the National League Wild Card race. After losing 3-2 to the Cincinnati Reds (73-82) yesterday, the Mets are four and a half games back of the Milwaukee Brewers for the second wild card spot. The Mets’ tragic number for playoff elimination is four, so they cannot afford another loss if they want to keep their miracle playoff dreams alive. That process starts today as the Mets look to wrap up their series with the Reds with a win this afternoon. First pitch for today’s game is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. at Great American Ball Park.

The Mets will send right hander Marcus Stroman (9-13, 3.21 ERA) to the mound today. Stroman dominated the Colorado Rockies in his last start, tossing seven shutout innings at Coors Field to pick up his ninth win of the year last Tuesday. The Reds will counter with their big trade deadline addition, right hander Trevor Bauer (11-12, 4.41 ERA). Bauer had his best start as a member of the Reds last Sunday, allowing one run in eight innings of work to defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Local Coverage:

Television: WPIX

Radio: WCBS

New York Mets Lineup:

Final game in Cincinnati. #LGM

⌚️ 👉 1:10 p.m.
🏟️ 👉 Cincinnati, OH
💪 👉 @MStrooo6
👀 👉 @PIX11
👂 👉 @wcbs880
💻 👉 https://t.co/BHZbFSCiY5 pic.twitter.com/12FcHgnWM9

— New York Mets (@Mets) September 22, 2019

Pre-Game Notes:

• Stroman has made one career start against the Reds, allowing two runs in six innings of work to pick up a win as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays.
• Bauer tossed two scoreless innings in relief against the Mets in 2016, when he was a member of the Cleveland Indians.
• Robinson Cano (5 for 17, 2 2B, RBI) and Todd Frazier (7 for 22, 2B, HR, 3 RBI) have good numbers against Bauer.
• This is the final game of the Mets’ season series with the Reds. The two teams have split the first six meetings 3-3.
• This is the final game of the Mets’ six-game road trip. The Mets are 3-2 over the first five games.
• This is the Mets’ final road game of 2019. The Mets are 37-43 on the road so far this season, which is actually slightly worse than the Mets’ 40-41 road record in 2018.