Reds at Mets, Game 1 - Preview and Lineups

The Cincinnati Reds exited St. Louis having outscored the Cardinals in their three game series, yet also headed to New York having managed to still lose two of three to their bitter division rivals. Next up is a four-game series against the Mets at Citi Field, one where it would be nice to finally see the bats and the pitching line-up as one cohesive baseball juggernaut.

At 11-16, the Reds own the third-worst record in the National League and the single worst record in the NL Central, and it sure seems like it’d be a good time for that, at least.

Cincinnati will turn to Tanner Roark to start the series opener, and to date he has been precisely the mid-rotation cog they’d hoped for when acquiring him last winter. Roark owns a 3.24 ERA that has outperformed his still-solid 3.81 FIP, and he has logged an even 25.0 IP in his 5 starts this season. The Mets, meanwhile, will counter with fireballer Zack Wheeler, whose 97.3 mph average fastball velocity ranks as the second fastest in all of MLB among starting pitchers this year (only behind teammate Noah Syndergaard).

First pitch is set for 7:10 PM ET.

Reds Lineup

Mets Lineup