The New York Mets (87-67) will take on the Cincinnati Reds this evening in what could be the clincher for the team’s first postseason appearance since 2006.
The Mets will send Matt Harvey (12-7, 2.80) to the mound and he will oppose left-hander John Lamb (1-3, 4.60) for the Reds in a 4:10 PM start at Great American Ball Park.
The Mets have won six straight vs. Cincinnati dating back to September 7, 2014. The Mets are 25-15 all-time at Great American Ball Park, which opened in 2003.
The Mets have clinched at least tie for the NL East crown. The Mets have won the NL East five previous times in 1969, 1973, 1986, 1988 and 2006. The Mets also advanced to the playoffs in 1999 and 2000 as a Wild Card.
Mets Starting Lineup
- Curtis Granderson, RF
- David Wright, 3B
- Yoenis Cespedes, CF
- Daniel Murphy, 2B
- Travis d’Arnaud, C
- Lucas Duda, 1B
- Michael Cuddyer, LF
- Wilmer Flores, SS
- Matt Harvey, RHP
Today could be the day. It could really be the day.
Yesterday the Phillies beat the Nationals and the Mets crushed the Reds knocking the magic number to the post-season down to 1. Focusing on the Mets, Noah Syndergaard was fantastic just crushing the Reds lineup. Meanwhile, Duda had a comeback type of night smacking two 3-run homers recording 6 RBI’s.
Matt Harvey gets the start tonight. He’s 12-7 over 27 starts and 176.2 innings with a 2.80 ERA. He tossed 5.0 masterful innings against the Yankees last Sunday, holding them to one hit, one walk and 7 strikeouts. Then he left due to the innings cap and the Mets self-destructed. Back in June he held the Reds to 4 hits and 1 run, not earned, over 6.0 innings. The Reds have the following numbers against Harvey:
- Schumaker 2-11, 2B
- Philips 3-9, 2 2B
- Bruce 2-9, 2B
- Votto 2-6, 2B
- Frazier 0-6
- Pena 1-3
The Mets draw another rookie from the Reds (there’s really no choice, that is their rotation) today in John Lamb. Lamb is 1-3 over 8 starts and 43.0 innings with a 4.60 ERA. His last start was the second in his last three where he held his opponents to no runs, and that has been his month of September. He’s either been terrible, or lights out. He had a 2.67 ERA over 20 starts in the minors this year and he has never faced anyone on the Mets roster in a major league game.
