Reds at Mets
After limping out of the gate with five losses in their first seven games, the New York Mets have righted the ship by winning eight of their last 10 contests. The Mets hope their good fortune travels with them back to Queens on Monday when they open a nine-game homestand with the first of three contests versus the Cincinnati Reds.
New York launched 23 homers through the initial eight outings of its nine-game road trip before manufacturing its offense in Sunday's 3-2 victory to complete a sweep of Atlanta. Michael Conforto drove in a pair of runs in the finale to cap a strong series (4-for-11) for the Mets, who batted .293 with 25 doubles during their nine-game road trip. While New York is ascending, Cincinnati has cooled off considerably from its hot start by dropping nine of its last 13 - including three of four to the Chicago Cubs. Eugenio Suarez had one of the Reds' three hits in a 9-0 shellacking on Sunday to improve to 5-for-12 in the last three games, but is just 1-for-6 in his career versus Monday starter Noah Syndergaard.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Raisel Iglesias (1-1, 3.09 ERA) vs. Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (2-0, 0.90)
Iglesias authored arguably his best start in 2016 on Wednesday, when he allowed two runs and recorded season highs in both strikeouts (eight) and innings (6 2/3) before seeing the bullpen fail to close the door in a no-decision versus Colorado. The 26-year-old Cuban has kept the ball in the park in two of his four starts this season. Iglesias, who got the call on opening day, will be make his 21st start overall and first in his career versus New York.
Syndergaard has bolted out of the blocks to start the season, allowing just two runs on 15 hits while striking out 29 in 20 innings. The 23-year-old dominated Philadelphia last Monday, permitting just one run on five hits in seven frames and earned two extra days' rest as a reward. Syndergaard has handcuffed Cincinnati in both career outings, striking out 11 over 7 2/3 innings in his last meeting to improve to 2-0 with a 1.72 ERA while limiting the Reds to a .179 batting average.
WALK-OFFS
1. New York RF Curtis Granderson is 9-for-21 with three homers, seven RBIs and as many runs scored during his five-game hitting streak, but is just 2-for-23 (.087) at home this season.
2. Cincinnati SS Zack Cozart has hit safely in 12 of his 13 contests this season.
3. New York SS Asdrubal Cabrera is 6-for-17 with a homer, three RBIs and as many runs scored during his four-game hitting streak.