New York @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 20, 2019 ) NY Mets 8, Cincinnati 1

The New York Mets are taking care of their own business as they try to track down a National League wild card spot, but they will need a little help. The Mets try to keep posting wins while watching the out of town scoreboard when they visit the Cincinnati Reds for the second of a three-game series on Saturday.

New York sits 3 1/2 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the race for the second NL wild card and picked up its third straight victory by pounding the Reds 8-1 in the series opener on Friday. Jacob deGrom continued his march toward a second Cy Young Award in the win and rookie slugger Pete Alonso hit his 50th homer, moving within three of breaking the rookie record of 52 set by the New York Yankees' Aaron Judge in 2017. The Reds are looking to play spoiler and are trying to claim their third consecutive series win against a wild card contender after taking two of three from Arizona and the Chicago Cubs in the last week. Cincinnati will send right-hander Anthony DeSclafani to the mound on Saturday while the Mets try to keep on winning behind surging righty Zack Wheeler.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, WPIX (New York), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Zack Wheeler (11-7, 4.09 ERA) vs. Reds RH Anthony DeSclafani (9-9, 3.93)

Wheeler keeps improving his stock as he gets ready for free agency and allowed one earned run in each of his last four starts. The 29-year-old struck out nine and allowed one run on six hits over seven innings against the NL-best Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, but was held out of the decision in a game New York dropped 3-2. Wheeler went up against Cincinnati on April 29 and did not earn a decision while permitting four runs on seven hits and three walks across six innings.

DeSclafani is thriving down the stretch as well and surrendered two or fewer earned runs in five of his last six turns. The New Jersey native was a tough-luck loser at Arizona last Saturday, when he yielded one run and one hit over seven innings but came out on the wrong end of a 1-0 final score. DeSclafani had little trouble with the Mets in New York on May 1, scattering three hits and striking out eight across 5 2/3 scoreless frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mets OF Michael Conforto singled in a run in the ninth inning on Friday, snapping a 0-for-18 slump.

2. Reds rookie OF Aristides Aquino belted his 17th home run in Friday's setback.

3. New York RHP Robert Gsellman (triceps tightness) threw a bullpen session and could throw live batting practice next, setting him up for a return before the end of the regular season.

PREDICTION: Mets 4, Reds 3