Cespedes-less Mets still handling Reds
The Mets prefer not to dwell on a key personnel loss at the moment. They just keep figuring out ways to clobber the competition regardless.
Red-hot New York hosts struggling Cincinnati tonight, with a 7:10 p.m. ET first pitch at Citi Fields. Oddsmakers at online sports book Bovada.lv fully expect Terry Collins’ club to capture victory No. 5 in a row. Conversely, the Reds enter as +140 underdogs.
After a lethargic beginning to 2016, the Mets (11-7) are producing some of the gaudiest offensive numbers out there. Neil Walker is heading the attack, hitting .357 with seven homers and nine RBIs. The second baseman’s surge in the past week-plus has been especially important in light of Yoenis Cespedes’ leg injury. While the slugging left fielder (.345, four HRs, 11 RBIs) recently had fluid drained from his right knee, general manager Sandy Alderson continues to characterize it as a day-to-day situation.
On the mound, Bartolo Colon (1-1, 2.89 ERA) simply keeps defying conventional wisdom. The 42-year-old could move past Pedro Martinez this evening and into second place for most wins by a Dominican-born hurler. He’s 4-1 with a 3.77 ERA in five starts against Cincy.
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Bryan Price’s counterpunch, Brandon Finnegan (1-1, 3.74), doesn’t possess nearly as much experience. The southpaw’s upside intrigues many within the organization, though, despite Thursday’s abbreviated outing vs. the Cubs. He’ll try to hold down a New York lineup that rakes lefties at a .291 clip.
The uncertain status of Brandon Phillips (he left last night’s 5-3 defeat with a left ring finger issue), not to mention the fact that the Reds (9-11) come in having dropped four of five, definitely gives the Mets an edge on paper. Since we’re a little suspicious about Colon’s ability to venture deep into the tilt, however, let’s keep the focus on the total scoring output.
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