Mets at Reds
As has been the case all too often for the Cincinnati Reds this season, Great American Ball Park has been cure for whatever was ailing the other team's offense prior to that series. The New York Mets were the latest team to catch fire at the venue versus the Reds on Monday, and they'll look for more of the same Tuesday when they continue a three-game set in Cincinnati.
New York scored in only six of the 54 innings it played and was shut out three times during a winless six-game homestand last week, totaling 11 runs - seven of which came in one game - while getting swept by Atlanta and Colorado. The Mets pushed across at least one run in each of the first five innings of their series-opening 7-6 victory, however, taking advantage of two solo shots from Adrian Gonzalez as well as one homer apiece from former Red Jay Bruce and Michael Conforto. No major-league team has yielded more long balls at home than the 37 surrendered by the Reds, who are allowing a National League-worst 5.7 runs per game in those contests. Eugenio Suarez and Scooter Gennett each connected on a solo blast to make things interesting late for Cincinnati, as the duo finished with two hits and two runs scored apiece.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Jason Vargas (0-2, 16.20 ERA) vs. Reds RH Luis Castillo (1-4, 7.01)
Vargas got a late start to the season due to a fractured right hand he suffered in mid-March and has yet to be effective in any of his three outings in the majors or minors, giving up a total of 15 runs - including five homers - in two turns with the Mets spanning 8 1/3 innings. The Long Beach State product was tagged for six runs on 11 hits in Thursday's loss to Atlanta. Right-handed hitters are batting .500 with three homers in 30 at-bats against Vargas, who last faced Cincinnati in 2006.
Castillo will make his second straight start at home after five consecutive road turns but is coming off a loss to Milwaukee on Wednesday in which he yielded two runs on nine hits while striking out seven in six frames. The outing was an encouraging one for the 25-year-old, who mustered only one quality start over his first six appearances. Castillo is 1-6 with a 4.02 ERA in nine career starts at Great American Ball Park entering his first matchup against the Mets.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Mets are 19-3 in their last 22 meetings against the Reds, outscoring them 119-74.
2. Cincinnati's 8-27 mark through 35 games is the worst start in the majors since Detroit had the same record in 2003.
3. New York OF Yoenis Cespedes went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a sacrifice fly in the opener after leaving early Sunday due to right hip tightness.