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There is a chance for rain in New York on Friday, where the Reds and Mets will face off at Citi Field. The over/under line is at 7.5 runs, and the Mets are favored on the money line, with their odds sitting at -181 compared to the Reds at +150. First pitch is set for 7:10 PM ET, and SNY will be televising this NL matchup.
Cincinnati comes into the game on a four-game winning streak and its record of 68-73 has them 4th in the NL Central. The Mets are 2nd in the NL East with a record of 76-64. Friday’s pitching matchup features Fernando Cruz for the Reds and Sean Manaea for the Mets.
Cincinnati vs. New York Key Information
- Teams: Reds at Mets
- Where: Citi Field New York
- Date: Friday, September 6th
- Betting Odds NYM -181 | CIN +150 O/U 7.5
The Reds Can Win If…
Right-hander Fernando Cruz gets the start for the Reds today as he faces the Mets on the road. He has made 63 appearances this season and has a record of 3-8 with a 4.99 ERA. Cruz has made two starts and 29 appearances on the road, coming in with a record of 2-4 and 6.67 ERA. So far, he has a WHIP of 1.35 and is averaging 14.05 strikeouts per nine innings. Cruz’s last outing came on August 31st, where he went 2 innings and didn’t give up a run, finishing with a no-decision. He has finished with a no-decision in each of his last three outings.
Elly De La Cruz comes into the game with a team-high 22 home runs, while batting .263 for the season. His 63 RBIs are also the 2nd most on the team. Spencer Steer has been the Reds’ top run producer, as his 86 RBIs are 12th in the league and the most on the team. Steer has 19 homers this season, which is 3rd on the team.
Over his last 10 games, Ty France has gone 16/35 for the Reds with one home run and five RBIs. Jonathan India has also homered twice in his last nine games, but he is just 8/34 in that stretch. Will Benson has also homered twice in his last seven games but is just 3/15 in that stretch.
- The Reds are 5-5 in their last ten games.
- Over their last five games, the Reds are 5-0 vs. the run line.
- Cincinnati has an over/under record of 5-4-1 in their last ten games.
- The Reds have an average of 5.2 runs per game over their last five games.
- Across their last ten road games, the Reds are 4-6
- Looking back across the Reds last five games as the favorite, they are 2-3
- Cincinnati has gone 3-0 in their last three games as the underdog
- In their ten most recent road games, the Reds have averaged 4.5 runs per game on offense
The Mets Can Win If…
Sean Manaea has been pitching well for the Mets, as he has won his last two starts. Most recently, he faced the White Sox and picked up the win, going seven innings and not giving up a run. In his outing vs. the Diamondbacks on August 27th, he went 6 2/3 innings, giving up three earned runs and getting the win. Manaea has made 27 starts this year and has a record of 11-5. His ERA for the season is 3.35, along with a WHIP of 1.11. Opposing batters are hitting .200 off the left-hander this year.
Francisco Lindor has been red hot at the plate for the Mets, going 9/24 in his last six games with two homers and five RBIs. This has helped him move into the team lead in RBIs (84) while batting .274 for the season. Pete Alonso has also been a solid power threat for the Mets, as he has 31 homers this season, which is 9th in the MLB.
As a team, the Mets are 5th in home runs and are 7th in the league in scoring at 4.8 runs per game. They have been even better on the road, averaging 4.9 runs per contest.
- The Mets are 8-2 in their last ten games.
- Over their last five games, the Mets are 5-0 vs. the run line.
- New York has an over/under record of 4-6 in their last ten games.
- The Mets have an average of 5.2 runs per game over their last five games.
- Across their last ten home games, the Mets are 7-3
- Looking back across the Mets last five games as the favorite, they are 5-0
- New York has gone 3-0 in their last three games as the underdog
- In their ten most recent road games, the Mets have averaged 4.5 runs per game on offense
The New York Mets, riding the wave of a seven-game winning streak, are locked in a fierce race for a National League wild-card spot as they kick off a critical three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night. Both teams enter this matchup with momentum, but the stakes are especially high for the Mets as they aim to solidify their postseason berth.
Mets Look to Maintain Wild-Card Position
Despite a day off on Thursday, the Mets (76-64) found themselves tied with the Atlanta Braves for the final NL wild-card spot after Atlanta’s 3-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies. With their recent surge, the Mets have gained four games on the Braves since August 29 and haven’t trailed in their last 53 innings.
Their most recent win, an 8-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, highlighted the team’s knack for making big plays when it counts. While the offense slowed down after Jesse Winker’s first-inning grand slam, the defense stepped up, with key double plays keeping the Mets ahead. In the eighth inning, New York pulled away, scoring four runs on just one hit and five walks.
“I love the sense of urgency these guys are showing,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “We’re seeing big plays, clutch at-bats, and we need to keep that up to reach our goals.”
Reds Look to Play Spoiler
Though the Reds (68-73) sit further back in the wild-card race, they’re on a four-game winning streak and have a chance to shake up the playoff picture as they embark on a tough road trip. After sweeping the Houston Astros with a 1-0 victory on Thursday, Cincinnati begins a 10-game stretch against playoff contenders, including the Mets, Braves, and Twins.
Cincinnati’s winning streak started with a thrilling 11-inning walk-off win against the Milwaukee Brewers last Sunday. They then swept the AL West-leading Astros, a feat Houston hadn’t endured since April. In Thursday’s finale, rookie Rhett Lowder delivered an impressive performance, allowing just four hits over 6 1/3 innings, while Ty France‘s solo homer sealed the win.
“For Rhett to perform like that against a lineup like Houston’s, it’s a huge experience for him,” Reds manager David Bell said.
Pitching Matchup: Manaea vs. Cruz
The Mets will turn to left-hander Sean Manaea (11-5, 3.35 ERA) in the series opener. Manaea has been in top form recently, pitching seven scoreless innings in his last outing, a 2-0 win over the Chicago White Sox. He also has a good track record against the Reds, boasting a 2-0 record with a 2.70 ERA in three career appearances.
For the Reds, right-hander Fernando Cruz (3-8, 4.99 ERA) will take the mound as an opener. Cruz has been reliable in short outings, throwing two scoreless innings in his most recent appearance, a 5-4 loss to the Brewers. However, he struggled earlier in the season against the Mets, giving up a run in one inning during a 3-2 defeat back in April.
Series Outlook
Both the Mets and Reds enter this series on winning streaks, setting the stage for an intense three-game showdown. The Mets, eager to hold onto their wild-card position, will rely on their recent momentum and strong pitching to keep their playoff dreams alive. Meanwhile, the Reds, though long shots in the wild-card race, have the chance to play spoiler and continue their late-season surge against top-tier competition.
With playoff implications on the line, every pitch and every at-bat will carry extra weight as these two teams clash in what could be a defining series for both.
The Lean
Need a pick for today’s Reds and Mets matchup? We would be leaning toward the Reds to come out on top, and we are also projecting this to be the 3rd highest-scoring game of the day. Our lean would be to take the over. Looking at today’s starters, we have Sean Manaea as our 12th best strikeout pitcher compared to Fernando Cruz, who is 9th worst.
