Mets 51-51 vs Reds 50-52

Johnny Cueto 6-3, 1.98 ERA

Jon Niese 9-8, 3.76 ERA

1. Reyes - SS
2. Turner - 2B
3. Beltran - RF
4. Wright - 3B
5. Murphy - 1B
6. Bay - LF
7. Paulino - C
8. Pridie - CF
9. Niese - LHP

The Mets try for back-to-back wins at Great American Ball Park against Cincinnati Reds in this four games series. Despite the victory last night against the Reds in a 4-2 win, the Mets are 13 1/2 games behind NL East-leading Philadelphia. With the Mets (51-51) a long shot to reach the playoffs, currently  7.5 games back in the wild card behind the Atlanta Braves, they are all but certain to move OF Carlos Beltran before Sunday’s deadline. Mets face another dominate ace tonight in Johnny Cueto, who has posted a 1.98 ERA and who ranks second in the majors in ERA among pitchers with at least 90 innings. Cueto has held opponents to 2 or fewer runs eight times during his run of 11 consecutive quality starts. 

Wright and Beltran have each homered versus Cueto and are a combined 6-for-16 (.375) against him.

While Jason Isringhausen has shined since Frankie Rodriguez was dealt to the Brewers, Wright has also come up big of late. The 5x All-Star has gone 8-for-19 (.421) with a homerun and six RBIs in four games since missing more than two months with a stress fracture in his lower back.

Cueto:

• 1-1, 2.57 ERA 35.0IP 25H 10ER 12BB 14K 1HR (Last 5 Game)
• Home (This Year) 2-1, 2.14 ERA 33.2IP 20H 8ER 11BB 21K 3 HRs .160BAA (5 Games)
• Career vs Mets - 0-2, 8.14 ERA 21.0IP 30H 19ER 10BB 23K 5HRs .333BAA (4 Starts)

Niese:

• 2-2, 4.10ERA 26.1IP 26H 12ER 5BB 26K 1HR (Last 5 Games)
• Away (This Year) 5-3, 4.37 ERA 55.2IP 53H 27ER 14BB 46K 5HRs .251BAA
• Career vs Reds - 0-1, 4.61 ERA 13.2IP 18H 7ER 1BB 12K 4HRs .310BAA (2 Starts)

Game Notes:

• Wright vs. Cueto - 4-for-11 (.364) HR, 3 RBI
• Beltran vs. Cueto - 2-for-5 (.400) HR, 3 RBI
• Phillips vs Niese - 4-for-7 (.571) 2 HRs, 3 RBI, 2B
• Mets all-time Record vs. Reds - 255-300 (555 Games)

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