Reds at Mets
While talk of winning back-to-back Cy Young Awards one week into the season was obviously premature, it just pointed out how good New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom was in his first two starts. However, deGrom is now mired in a three-start losing streak that he will try to halt when New York resumes a four-game set against the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night.
DeGrom opened the season in overpowering fashion, striking out 24 in 13 scoreless innings before three straight rocky outings that were interrupted by a stint on the injured list. The Mets survived a ninth-inning comeback by Cincinnati on Tuesday and evened the series on Pete Alonso's sacrifice fly in the 10th for a 4-3 victory to improve to 6-7 at Citi Field. One night after winning the series opener on a ninth-inning homer, the Reds received RBI singles from Kyle Farmer and Jose Peraza in the ninth before falling for the 14th time in 18 games in New York. Opposing deGrom will be right-hander Anthony DeSclafani, who has allowed one run over 12 innings in his last two trips to the mound.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Anthony DeSclafani (1-1, 4.26 ERA) vs. Mets RH Jacob deGrom (2-3, 4.85)
DeSclafani finally broke into the win column in his last outing, limiting St. Louis to four hits and striking out six over six scoreless innings. The 29-year-old also went six innings in his previous turn and deserved a better fate after fanning six and holding San Diego to one run and two hits over six innings in a no-decision. The Mets have been a nightmarish matchup for DeSclafani, who is 0-3 with a bloated 9.00 ERA in four appearances (three starts) against them.
Making his first start since he went on the injured list with the elbow issue, deGrom struggled for the third consecutive outing, lasting four innings and giving up five runs while striking out seven. He was blasted for five home runs over his previous two turns in losses to Atlanta and Minnesota while failing to pitch beyond five innings in each. DeGrom has made four starts against the Reds, going 2-1 with 34 strikeouts, but Eugenio Suarez is 3-for-9 against him.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mets 2B Jeff McNeil collected four hits Tuesday and has reach base in 25 of his 26 starts this season.
2. Reds 3B Eugenio Suarez homered Tuesday to give him seven RBIs in his last six games.
3. Mets 2B Robinson Cano has missed two straight games since getting hit on the left hand with a pitch Sunday.