Reds at Mets
The New York Mets will have reason to celebrate Wednesday with the official announcement that the club will host the 2013 All-Star Game at Citi Field. Of more immediate concern for the Mets will be bouncing back from an 8-0 drubbing at the hands of Milwaukee on Tuesday that denied New York a chance to move six games above .500 for the first time since July 2010. David Wright, riding a nine-game hitting streak and batting a major league-best .408, leads the Mets into a two-game series against visiting Cincinnati.
The Reds will be bracing for an extended stay in the Big Apple. Following the two-game set against the Mets, they will make a short trip to the Bronx for a three-game interleague set with the New York Yankees. Cincinnati is coming off a two-game split at Atlanta following a 6-2 loss Tuesday. The biggest positive for the Reds in the series was Chris Heisey, who had a pair of three-hit games and went 6-for-7 with two doubles.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Ohio (Cincinnati), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Mike Leake (0-5, 7.11 ERA) vs. Mets LH Johan Santana (1-2, 2.92 ERA)
Leake could pitch himself out of the starting rotation if he doesn't turn things around soon. He is coming off another rocky outing, giving up two homers for the second straight start and allowing six runs in a career-low three innings against Washington. Leake has acquitted himself well in two starts against the Mets, going 0-1 with a 2.19 ERA.
Santana overcame a shaky first inning in his last start to turn in his fourth straight quality start. After giving up three runs and three hits in the first innings, he followed with five scoreless innings and got a no-decision at Miami. He is 4-0 with a 3.23 ERA in seven appearances (six starts) against Cincinnati. Joey Votto is 3-for-12 with three strikeouts against him.
WALK-OFFS:
1. Mets 2B Daniel Murphy extended his hitting streak to a career-high 11 games Tuesday.
2. Cincinnati will be the seventh team to visit two teams in the same market back-to-back since the start of interleague play in 1997.
3. The Mets last hosted the All-Star Game in 1964, which is the longest drought among current franchises.