Series losses defined the weekend for the New York Mets (17-18) and Cincinnati Reds (14-20), but they can bounce back in this Tuesday night contest. Last year, the Reds only took one game from the Mets in six tries, so they could get some payback too. Both teams are more than 5.0 games behind first place in their respective divisions, a deficit that's discouraging but not permanent. At 6:40 p.m. EDT in Great American Ball Park, either side could inch one step closer to where they want to be with a strong performance. Let's see how things should go down.
If there's a positive to be drawn from the Mets' loss on Sunday, they put up six runs and took the lead twice in the first four innings. However, as has been the case often lately, the pitchers weren't on the same page, allowing 13 runs in the loss. It marked the Mets' 11th loss over the past 14 games, a stretch that's taken them from 14-7 to 17-18. Last year's 101-win team is a distant memory when looking at this current group.
Bring 'em home, Brett! ?? pic.twitter.com/yc0Z1jNZa2
— New York Mets (@Mets) May 7, 2023
The offense has been below average, beginning the week 21st in runs per game. With a top-five walk rate and HBP tally, the Mets are 13th in OBP. However, they only have 36 homers, 11 off of Pete Alonso's bat, leading to a bottom-10 slugging percentage. They also are bottom-10 in batting average this season. Over the past 14 games, they're only scoring 3.29 runs per contest. In seven of those 14 games, the Mets were held under three runs. Things aren't a disaster, but a lot of the bats have been underwhelming in 2023.
Speaking of underwhelming, what's up with Max Scherzer? He's starting in this game and bringing an unrecognizable 5.56 ERA with him. In three of the four starts where he wasn't ejected this year, he allowed at least three runs. In his last start, against an awful Detroit Tigers offens e (28th in runs per game), he surrendered six runs and two long balls in 3.1 innings of work. He tossed 6.0 shutout innings in Cincinnati last year, so maybe this will be a pleasant return for him. Regardless, it's absurd to see him with a 6.35 FIP and 1.412 WHIP after a handful of starts.
The Mets are allowing 5.64 runs per game over the last 14, so they'll need him sharp as they try to turn things around.