The Mets suffered a brutal loss on Wednesday night in Chicago, 10-3, to the Cubs. However, the Reds and D-backs couldn’t capitalize, as both teams also lost. The Reds and D-backs games should be over before the Mets game kicks off at 7:40 p.m. ET on Thursday night.
The Mets (81-77) enter Thursday with a one-game lead over the Reds and D-backs. Importantly, the Reds and the D-backs hold the tiebreaker over the Mets.
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Pittsburgh Pirates (69-89) @ Cincinnati Reds (80-78), 12:40 PM ET
RHP Braxton Ashcraft (4-2, 2.62 ERA) vs. LHP Nick Lodolo (8-8, 3.44 ERA)
The Reds left the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th inning on Wednesday in their 4-3 loss to the Pirates. Former Mets pitcher Yohan Ramirez worked out of trouble to pick up the save.
Pirates’ starter Braxton Ashcraft hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any of his seven starts this season. Reds’ starter Nick Lodolo has given up more than three runs in three of his last four starts.
Los Angeles Dodgers (89-69) @ Arizona Diamondbacks (80-78), 3:40 PM ET
RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (11-8, 2.58 ERA) vs. RHP Nabil Crismatt (3-0, 2.61 ERA)
Like the Reds, the D-backs in 11 innings on Wednesday, 5-4 to the Dodgers after scoring three runs in the eighth to tie it. Another former Met helped out the cause when D-backs catcher James McCann flew out to end the bottom of the 10th with the winning run on second.
Yamamoto, who has been one of the NL’s best starters this year, goes for the Dodgers as they look to hold off the Padres for the division title. Lefty Jalen Beeks (3.67 ERA) is the opener for the D-backs, but former Mets farmhand Nabil Crismatt will be their bulk pitcher.
The Mets are in action at 7:40 p.m. ET in Chicago against the Cubs. It will be stud rookie Nolan McLean (1.27 ERA) against lefty Shota Imanaga (3.37 ERA).
