Reds at Mets
The New York Mets are treading water in the National League East with a 5-6 record at Citi Field, a mark that includes a split of the first six contests of their 10-game homestand. The Mets look to turn it up a notch on Monday when they open a four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds, who are just 4-10 on the road.
Former Reds star Todd Frazier collected his first multi-hit performance since returning from injury and drove in his sixth run in five games in Sunday's 5-2 win over Milwaukee. The 33-year-old hasn't fared well versus Monday starter Tanner Roark, going 2-for-11. Cincinnati's bats went relatively quiet after erupting for five homers in Friday's 12-1 shellacking of St. Louis, mustering one extra-base hit in Saturday's 6-3 loss and two in a 5-2 setback the following day. Scott Schebler hit a two-run double with two outs in the ninth inning in the series finale but is 2-for-32 in his last 13 games.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Tanner Roark (1-1, 3.24 ERA) vs. Mets RH Zack Wheeler (2-2, 4.85)
Roark sustained his first loss of the season in Wednesday's 3-1 defeat against Atlanta despite allowing just one earned run for a third straight start. The 32-year-old surrendered a homer to Ozzie Albies on the game's first pitch but was done in after Yasiel Puig's fifth-inning error in that contest. Roark boasts an 8-4 mark with a 3.07 ERA in 22 career appearances (16 starts) against the Mets, with Juan Lagares (3-for-17) and Michael Conforto (4-for-23) struggling mightily versus the hurler.
Wheeler authored his best start of the season on Tuesday after scattering five hits and striking out 11 over seven innings in a 9-0 romp over Philadelphia. The 28-year-old also contributed with the bat by connecting for his first major-league home run. Wheeler owns a 1-0 record in two career encounters with Cincinnati and has flustered Derek Dietrich (4-for-18, 10 strikeouts).
WALK-OFFS
1. New York rookie 1B Pete Alonso is 4-for-9 with a homer, three RBIs and two runs scored in his last two games.
2. Cincinnati 3B Eugenio Suarez has three homers and seven RBIs while hitting safely in eight of his last nine contests.
3. Mets 2B Robinson Cano will have an MRI on Monday on his left hand after he was hit by a pitch in the series finale versus the Brewers.