New York Mets (17-18) vs. Cincinnati Reds (14-20)
May 9, 2023 6:40 pm EDT
The Line: Cincinnati Reds +200 / New York Mets -270; Over/Under: +7.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The New York Mets and the Cincinnati Reds meet Tuesday in MLB action from Great American Ball Park. The Mets are fresh off a weekend series versus the Rockies. New York lost two of those three games. As for Cincinnati, they played the White sox in their last series, losing two of three. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
New York Mets
The Mets managed a 1-0 victory over the Rockies Friday, but that was the only win they’d get in the series. New York fell in the next two games 5-2 and 13-6. Starting pitcher Joey Lucchesi put up 4.0 innings on Sunday, giving up three earned on four hits and three walks.
For the starter job in the Tuesday game the Mets will send out Max Scherzer. In his five starts so far Scherzer is 2-2 with 20 Ks in 22.2 innings. Scherzer is 203-104 with a 3.13 ERA in 435 career games (426 starts).
Cincinnati Reds
Over on the Reds’ side, they beat the White Sox 5-3 on Saturday but lost the other pair 5-4 and 17-4. Cincinnati’s Graham Ashcraft lasted just 1.2 innings with eight earned on six hits and two walks in the Sunday finale.
On Tuesday Luke Weaver will take the mound for the Reds. Over three starts this season Weaver is 0-2 with a 7.88 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 16.0 frames. Weaver has a career record of 24-38 with a 4.90 ERA in 118 games (84 starts.
The Mets are 44-21 in their last 65 in game one of a series and 3-7 in their last 10 after a loss. New York is 1-5 in their last six overall.
Meanwhile, the Reds are 9-19 in their last 28 in game one of a series and 3-7 in their last 10 after a loss. Cincinnati is 2-5 in their last seven overall.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’m going to stay with the Mets. It’s too thick of a line to mess with, though. Granted, both teams are struggling right now, but this should be a competitive and engaging series overall. Scherzer had a couple of nice outings late last month (8.0 combined innings; zero earned) but he stumbled against Detroit in his last appearance with 3.1 innings and six earned on eight hits and a walk. As for Weaver, he’s given up 14 earned over his last three starts in 16.0 combined innings. I like both pitchers to have reasonably solid outings here, with the Mets ultimately powering out the win.
