Cincinnati @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 27, 2011 ) Cincinnati 5, NY Mets 4

THE STORY: The Cincinnati Reds have done a fine job so far of spoiling the New York Mets' final series of the season, but they haven't managed to foil Jose Reyes' hopes of a National League batting title. Reyes takes a one-point lead in the batting race into Wednesday's season finale and the Mets look to avoid a three-game sweep when the teams wrap up the 2011 campaign at Citi Field.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Ohio, SNY

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Edinson Volquez (5-6, 5.84 ERA) vs. Mets RH Miguel Batista (4-2, 4.24 ERA).

Volquez is winless in three starts since returning from the disabled list, and he hasn't had a quality start during the drought. He did pitch better Friday at Pittsburgh, allowing three runs over five innings, but the Reds lost 4-3 and Volquez didn't factor in the decision. Volquez has been hit hard in two starts against the Mets, going 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA.

Batista is slated for his first start since Sept. 11, when he allowed four runs over five innings in a no-decision against the Chicago Cubs. He has made five relief appearances since then, allowing two runs in 4 2/3 innings. Batista has made five starts and 15 relief appearances against the Reds, and he's 3-1 with a 2.77 ERA.

ABOUT THE REDS (79-82): Cincinnati has won the first two games of the series with late heroics from promising young players. Chris Heisey hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the opener, and Juan Francisco drove in the tying run in the ninth and scored the winning run in the 13th on Tuesday. The Reds have won three straight and are on the verge of their third three-game sweep in their past 10 series. Cincinnati's bullpen worked five scoreless innings, allowing only one hit Tuesday, though closer Francisco Cordero did issue four walks before working out of the jam in the 13th to earn his 37th save of the season and his 150th with the Reds.

ABOUT THE METS (76-85): Mets manager Terry Collins hinted early in the week that he might give Reyes the day off Wednesday. If he is in the lineup, Reyes has had good luck against Volquez – he’s 4-for-5 with a triple against the righthander. No Mets player has ever won a batting title. New York, which will finish fourth in the National League East for the third consecutive year, needs a win to avoid capping a disappointing season with a four-game losing streak.

FINAL PITCH: Jay Bruce's two-run homer in the first inning Tuesday was the 100th of his career, making the 24-year-old the third-youngest player in Reds history to reach the milestone. The only younger players to get there for Cincinnati were Johnny Bench and Frank Robinson.