Photo: Matthew Kirby
The Cincinnati Reds and the New York Mets have split the first two games of their series. Today New York will send a starting pitcher to the mound to make his big league debut as the two teams try to take one step closer to making the playoffs as they compete for a wild card spot. First pitch is scheduled for 1:40pm ET. This game will also be available on MLB Network along with the usual broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network Ohio.
Starting Lineups
Starting Pitchers
Hunter Greene
Since returning from the injured list, Hunter Greene has made four starts and allowed just seven earned runs in his 23.2 innings while striking out 28 batters and walking just three.
The splits against Greene this season are small. Lefties are hitting for a lower average, but hitting for a bit more power. Right-handed hitters are hitting for a low, but better average, but they walk even less than lefties do when facing him.
Splits
SplitPAH2B3BHRBBKAVGOBPSLGRHH16735815649.219.247.375LHH162299071152.195.259.396
Pitch Usage
4-seamSliderSplitVelo99.489.488.3Usage55%35%10%
Brandon Sproat
This will be the Major League debut for Brandon Sproat. The 24-year-old has spent all of the season in Triple-A Syracuse. He’s been inconsistent for much of the season and that’s held true in the last month, too. He’s had two starts in his last four where he gave up five earned runs and didn’t get out of the 4th inning. In the other two starts he threw 13.0 combined innings, allowed one run, and struck out 17.
The splits in Triple-A this season are big. He’s been dominant against righties who aren’t hitting in any way, shape, or form. That said, while he has walked just 19 right-handed hitters, he’s also hit nine of them. Lefties are hitting much better, walking a lot more, striking out a lot less. What they don’t do much of is hit for power as he’s generated a high ground ball rate this season.
Splits (Triple-A)
SplitPAH2B3BHRBBKAVGOBPSLGRHH245384151962.177.270.274LHH2675917043451.257.356.383
Pitch Usage (Triple-A)
4-seam2-seamCurveSliderChangeVelo96.996.080.486.590.8Usage26%21%7%31%15%
When and Where
Game time: 1:40pm ETWhere: Great American Ball ParkWatch: FanDuel Sports Network, MLB.tv, MLB NetworkListen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)Forecast: 70°, partly cloudy, 5% chance of rain
News and Notes
Can the Reds win the rubber match?
Joel Luckhaupt pointed out on Bluesky this morning that the Cincinnati Reds are 2-7 all time with Hunter Greene starting the rubber match game of a series. He also noted that the Reds did win the last time this happened – just under a month ago against the Phillies.
Wild Card Standings
With the division firmly out of reach, we are switching to the Wild Card standings for the rest of the season.
TeamWLGBPlayoff OddsChicago8161+5.099.8%San Diego7765+1.096.4%New York76660.095.3%San Francisco72704.04.3%Arizona72714.52.8%Cincinnati71715.02.1%Playoff Odds via Fangraphs
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