The Mets looked like the NL East favorites and put the concerns of their faithful on hold during their recent road trip where they went 7-2. New York got strong pitching and slugged a bunch of home runs, putting a slow start behind them.
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ODDS ANALYSIS
The Reds are happy they don’t have to face the Cubs for another two months. Cincy dropped three of four over the weekend and six of seven overall this young season to the NL Central leaders. In five of those six defeats, the Reds were outscored by a 50-4 margin. Their three recent defeats produced a total of one run. Saying goodbye to the Cubs isn’t as sweet when you have to say hello to the defending NL champions.
The Mets appeared to get back on track during their recent road trip that saw them go 7-2 in visits to Cleveland, Philadelphia and Atlanta. It wasn’t the stiffest of competition for the NL East favorites, but considering they lost two of three at home to the Phillies two weeks ago, it was a move forward the Mets hope continues. They finished the trip up 4.64 units on the moneyline. The Metropolitans struggled at Citi Field during their first homestand, dropping four of six games, but the faithful are certainly feeling better now.
PROBABLE PITCHERS
Despite being on the wrong end of no-no and allowing five earned in 4.0 innings, Cincinnati’s Brandon Finnegan (1-1, 3.74 ERA) said he felt his stuff was better than his more successful outing against the Cubs on Apr. 13. Still, the lefty is excited he won’t have to face the Cubs for awhile. Seven of his nine earned runs allowed were in two starts against Chicago.
The centerpiece of the Johnny Cueto deal last year, Finnegan has great potential but his 12 walks and four home runs allowed in 21.2 innings are a concern. He does have 18 strikeouts, but half of those came in his first start of the year against a light-hitting Phils squad.
New York’s Bartolo Colon (1-1, 2.89 ERA) tossed six innings, allowing three runs, four hits and a walk while striking out four against the Phillies on Wednesday. Despite leaving the game with a lead, he didn’t factor in the decision with the game going into extra innings.
At age 42, Colon continues to amaze, logging his second quality start of the season. The veteran will take his second crack at career win No. 220 when he takes the bump against the Reds, a team he’s faced only five times in 479-game big league career.
LIVE BETTING
Brandon Phillips has enjoyed his visits to New York to play the Mets. The Reds second baseman has hit safely in all 32 of his career road games in Queens – including all 22 since the Mets moved to Citi Field. That’s the longest hitting streak of any player in the stadium’s brief history. Phillips’ 32-game hitting streak in Queens is the longest by any active major league player against one team on the road.
He hasn’t been as successful against Colon during his career, but Phillips is a lifetime .295 hitter at Citi Field with 11 extra-base hits in his 95 at-bats. Four of his 28 hits have left the yard and he’s driven in 16.
QUICK PICK
It was a struggle all weekend for the Reds to get outs against the Cubs and the short outings provided by the starting rotation is putting a burden on the relievers. After going 7.1 innings on Sunday, Cincinnati relievers have thrown 74.1 innings. “Our bullpen is tired,” manager Bryan Price said.
The Mets are coming off an eight-game stretch where they hammered 23 homers, the most ever in that length of time. The Mets could be without slugger Yoenis Cespedes, however, and that loss hinders the offensive attack. Still, New York had a successful trip with timely hitting and solid pitching. Colon continues to defy the odds and the Reds will be hard pressed to counter an effective Mets bullpen.
MLB Odds: New York 5, Cincinnati 3
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