Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Monday, August 8 2022 • 7:10 P.M.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Justin Dunn (0-0, -.–) vs. RHP Chris Bassitt (8-7, 3.61)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM

The Mets had the weekend they needed taking four of five games from the Braves thus increasing their division lead to 6.5 games. Now the Mets pivot their attention from the Braves to the Reds before a series with the Phillies.

Similar to a week or so ago when the Mets went from playing Subway Series games to playing in Miami, there’s the potential for a shift in the energy in the stadium tonight. It’s natural, the Mets are coming off of the biggest series of the year to the Reds.

Mets Lineup

Reds Lineup

Chris Bassitt will look to keep the energy high and the good times rolling as he makes his 21st start of the season. Over 122 innings this season he has a 3.61 ERA, 3.71 FIP, 1.123 WHIP and a 110 ERA+. He’s coming off of one his best starts of the season where he shutout the Nationals for seven innings, scattering six hits and a walk. The Reds have the following career numbers against him:

  • Mike Moustakas 3-12, 2B, HR, K
  • Jake Fraley 0-4, 3 K
  • Nick Senzel 0-4, 2 K
  • Kyle Farmer 0-3, 2 K
  • Donovan Solano 0-3, 2 K

Justin Dunn makes a homecoming of sorts today when he starts against the Mets at Citi Field. Dunn was drafted by the Mets in 2016 and was a highly touted prospect in the Mets system (who battled through a slew of injuries). He was a critical piece of the trade sent Edwin Díaz and Robinson Canó to the Mets before the 2019 season (the big prospect in that trade being Jarred Kelenic). Dunn was traded again before the start of this season in a package of minor league players for Eugenio Suárez and Mets-fan favorite Jesse Winker.

Dunn has been working his way back through an injury again this season and joins a Reds rotation that just traded away Luis Castillo and just suffered an injury to Hunter Greene. Over his eight minor league rehab starts this season, he has pitched 28 innings with a 6.75 ERA. Last season in the majors he made 11 starts and pitched 50 1/3 innings with a 3.75 ERA, 4.74 FIP, 1.311 WHIP and a 111 ERA+. The only player on the Mets roster who has seen Dunn in a major league game is Mark Canha, who is 0-2 against Dunn with a walk.

Let’s Go Mets!