Cincinnati @ New York preview
Citi Field
Last Meeting ( Apr 5, 2014 ) Cincinnati 3, NY Mets 6
The New York Mets didn’t get any production from their first basemen in their opening series, but the opposite has been true since. Fresh off a pair of outbursts from Lucas Duda and Ike Davis, New York eyes a three-game home sweep of the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. Duda, Davis and Josh Satin went 0-for-10 as the Mets were swept by Washington, but a pair of two-run homers from Duda on Friday and a walk-off pinch-hit grand slam by Davis on Saturday helped New York to its first two wins.
Curtis Granderson also hit his first home run with the Mets, who have defeated the Reds in four straight. While a pair of relievers turned in the first clean outing by New York’s bullpen in five tries this season, Cincinnati de facto closer J.J. Hoover wasted another strong start by Johnny Cueto when he could not record an out in the ninth inning before surrendering Davis’ blast in Saturday’s 6-3 setback. On a more positive note, Brandon Phillips belted a two-run homer to extend his hit streak in road games against the Mets to 28 games.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Ohio (Cincinnati), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Alfredo Simon (2013: 6-4, 2.87 ERA) vs. Mets LH Jon Niese (2013: 10-9, 3.09)
Filling in for injured starter Mat Latos, Simon will draw his first start in three seasons after a somewhat disappointing spring training in which he went 1-3 with a 4.63 ERA. The ex-Baltimore Oriole made 63 appearances out of the bullpen in 2013 and was particularly tough against right-handed batters, limiting them to a .206 average. Simon, who is 3-9 with a 5.15 ERA in 19 all-time starts, has held the Mets scoreless the only three other times he has faced them in relief.
Niese, who was expected to be the Opening Day starter before experiencing left shoulder and elbow soreness during exhibition play, is expected to come off the disabled list in time to take the mound Sunday. Although his record didn’t reflect it, the 27-year-old Ohio native was significantly better at home (3-5, 2.70 ERA) than on the road (5-3, 5.27) in 2013. Niese went 1-1 with a 1.38 ERA against the Reds last year, but is 0-3 with a 3.05 ERA in three career home starts against them.
WALK-OFFS
1. Despite saying he would give Duda “an extended look” as the long-term starter at first base, Mets manager Terry Collins told reporters following Saturday’s win that Davis would be in the lineup Sunday.
2. Sixteen of the 20 runs New York has scored through five games have come via the home run, including all 10 in this series.
3. Reds GM Walk Jocketty announced Saturday that he expects RH Jonathan Broxton, who will take over closing duties from Hoover, to be activated from the disabled list Tuesday.
PREDICTION: Reds 5, Mets 4