New York @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( May 2, 2019 ) Cincinnati 0, NY Mets 1

The New York Mets are still doing everything they can to stay in the wild card race, but are running out of time. The Mets will try to continue taking advantage of a break in the schedule when they visit the sub-.500 Cincinnati Reds on Friday for the opener of a three-game series.

The Mets, who return home for a four-game set against the National League-worst Miami Marlins on Monday before closing the season against the Atlanta Braves, are 3 1/2 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the second wild card spot after taking two of three at the Colorado Rockies and showing some fight with a 7-4 victory Wednesday afternoon that included a four-run rally in the ninth and rookie Pete Alonso's 49th home run. "Obviously, we'd have liked to have swept (the Rockies) at this point," Alonso told reporters. "But taking a series is big for us. We're just going to go ahead and grab as many games as we can and see where the dust settles. We still have an outside shot. If we keep winning games, control what we can control, I think good things are going to happen." The Reds are no longer a factor in the wild card race but are doing a fine job of playing spoiler after taking two of three at the Cubs this week. Cincinnati will face a tough test Friday against Mets ace Jacob deGrom while countering with All-Star righty Luis Castillo.

TV: 7:10 p.m. SNY (New York), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Jacob deGrom (9-8, 2.61 ERA) vs. Reds RH Luis Castillo (15-6, 3.22)

DeGrom put together another gem Saturday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, scattering three hits and striking out eight without issuing a walk in seven scoreless innings, but did not factor in the decision. The Stetson product is aiming for a second consecutive NL Cy Young Award and allowed one or no earned runs in nine of his last 12 starts. DeGrom got no support against Cincinnati at home May 1, when he allowed three hits in seven scoreless frames without earning a decision.

Castillo made his last three starts against teams vying for NL playoff spots and went 2-1 while allowing a total of seven runs in 18 2/3 innings against Arizona (twice) and St. Louis. The 26-year-old is up to 178 2/3 innings in 2019, surpassing his career high of 169 2/3 set last season, and owns 211 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .203 batting average. Castillo started at New York on April 30 and allowed two runs and five hits in 6 2/3 frames without factoring in the decision.

WALK-OFFS

1. Alonso needs four home runs to break the rookie record set by the New York Yankees' Aaron Judge in 2017.

2. Reds 3B Eugenio Suarez hit his 48th home run Wednesday, passing Andres Galarraga for the most in a season by a Venezuela-born player.

3. New York OF Michael Conforto is 0-for-19 over the last six games.

PREDICTION: Mets 5, Reds 3