Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Friday, July 30, 2021 • 7:10 P.M.
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Sonny Gray (2-6, 4.50) vs. RHP Carlos Carrasco (0-0, -.–)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM • WQBU 92.7 FM
The Mets are coming off of a tough series with Braves to welcome the Reds to town tonight. And the stadium should be lit. The Mets are debuting their black uniforms, Carlos Carrasco is making his first start of the season and the team has been playing today up. Expect a high energy atmosphere tonight in Queens!
The Mets took 2 of 3 from the Reds earlier in the month. Since then Joey Votto has exploded – homering in 6 straight games. When the Mets left the Reds, the Reds were heading into sell mode now the Reds are a borderline team. This weekend is make or break for them.
Mets Lineup
- Brandon Nimmo – CF
- Jeff McNeil – 2B
- Pete Alonso – 1B
- Dominic Smith – LF
- Michael Conforto – RF
- Jonathan Villar – 3B
- Tomas Nido – C
- Luis Guillorme – SS
- Carlos Carrasco – RHP
Reds Lineup
- Jonathan India – 2B
- Jesse Winker – LF
- Kyle Farmer – SS
- Joey Votto – 1B
- Tyler Naquin – RF
- Tucker Barnhart – C
- Eugenio Suarez – 3B
- Shogo Akiyama – CF
- Sonny Gray – RHP
Carlos Carrasco was a huge part of the trade with Cleveland in the off-season. The Mets were getting a pitcher to bolster the rotation and take it to the next level. He’s been battling injuries all year and makes his anticipated Mets debut tonight. Last season he made 12 starts and pitched 68.0 innings with a 2.91 ERA, 3.59 FIP, 1.206 WHIP and a 159 ERA+. He’s coming off a strong rehab start. I would expect about 3-4 innings, maybe 5 tonight from Carlos. The Reds have the following numbers against him:
- Joey Votto 6-14, 2 2B, HR, 4 BB, 3 K
- Jesse Winker 2-5, 2 2B, 2 K
- Eugenio Suarez 3-13, HR, BB, 6 K
- Tucker Barnhart 1-6, K
- Kyle Farmer 0-2, K
- Shogo Akiyama 0-3, 3 K
The Mets bats draw Sonny Gray tonight. Sonny has pitched in 14 games and 70.0 innings with a 4.50 ERA, 4.03 FIP, 1.414 WHIP and a 105 ERA+. Gray missed the Mets last time around and is coming off of back to back difficult starts where he has allowed 13 runs over 8.0 innings from 14 hits and 5 walks. These two starts raised his ERA from 3.19 to 4.50. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:
- Michael Conforto 2-4, HR, 2 BB
- Dominic Smith 1-3, HR
- Kevin Pillar 7-27, BB, K
- Jonathan Villar 3-18, 3 K
- Brandon Nimmo 0-2, K
- James McCann 1-7, K
Game Notes
The Mets officially acquired infielder Javier Baez, right-handed pitcher Trevor Williams, and cash considerations from the Cubs for prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong.
The Mets have designated right-handed pitchers Akeem Bostick and Nick Tropeano for assignment and transferred right-handed pitcher Sean Reid-Foley to the 60-day injured list to make room for Baez, Williams, and Carrasco.
Let’s Go Mets!
