New York Mets Vs. Cincinnati Reds (7/4/22) Starting Lineup, Betting Odds, Prediction

This season through the first 78 games, the Mets lead the National League East with a record of 48-30; they’re currently -170 to win the division.  New York’s last appearance in the playoffs was 2016; losing to the San Francisco Giants in the Wild Card Game.  The Mets are +750 to win the 2022 World Series, they last won the championship in 1986.

In 2022, the Reds are 26-51 through their first 77 games of the season: fifth place in the National League Central.  Cincinnati has a .1% chance to make the playoffs in 2022; their last playoff appearance was in 2020.  The Reds last World Series title was 1990 when they beat the Oakland Athletics.

New York Mets Vs. Cincinnati Reds Betting Odds

The Mets are 4-1 in their last five vs. National League Central opponents.  Over is 4-1 in New York’s last five vs. National League Central foes.  The Mets are 21-6 in their last 27 during game one of a series.  Over is 4-1 in New York’s last five during game one of a series.  Under is 3-0-2 in the last five meetings between the Mets and Reds.  Cincinnati is 3-14 in their last 17 home games.  Over is 4-1 in the Reds last five home games. Under is 8-2-1 in Cincinnati’s last 11 during game one of a series.  The Reds are 0-5 in their last five contests vs. National League East foes. 

New York Mets Starting Lineup

CF B. Nimmo L
RF S. Marte R
SS F. Lindor S
1B P. Alonso R
DH J. McNeil L
3B E. Escobar S
LF M. Canha R
2B L. Guillorme L
C J. McCann R

New York Mets Vs. Hunter Greene (R)

Pete Alonso has been on a torrid power stretch the last two months, blasting 18 home runs and driving in 52 runs in May and June.  The Mets first baseman is currently tied for fifth in Major League Baseball with 22 home runs, while leading all of baseball in runs batted in with 69.  Additionally, he has 156 total bases, an OPS of .913 with a .553 slugging percentage.  Alonso is +500 to win his first National League MVP award. 

Starling Marte hit .310 with 12 home runs and 55 runs batted in playing for the Marlins and Athletics in 2021.  This season he has 27 extra base hits (eight home runs), 38 runs driven in with a .282 batting average in 2022.  The 33-year-old has 123 totals bases, an OPS of .779 while slugging .451 this campaign.  Mark Canha in his first year as a Met, has hit six home runs and driven in 30 runs with a .727 OPS in 2022.  Brandon Nimmo, in his seventh season, is batting .273 with 24 extra base hits, 24 runs batted in with an OPS of .777 while playing a fantastic defensive centerfield for New York.

This season, Hunter Greene is 3-9 in 15 starts with a 5.72 ERA.  He’s struck out 93 batters and allowed 47 runs in 74 innings with a 1.338 WHIP in 2022.  

Cincinnati Reds Starting Lineup

2B J. India R
3B B. Drury R
LF T. Pham R
1B J. Votto L
SS K. Farmer R
RF A. Almora R
DH M. Moustakas L
CF N. Senzel R
C A. Garcia R

Cincinnati Reds Vs. Taijuan Walker (R)

In 129 games in 2021, Joey Votto smacked 36 homers, drove in 99 runs with a .563 slugging percentage and an OPS of .938.  The long-time Cincinnati star has a lifetime batting average of .299 with 2,072 hits, 337 home runs and 1,090 runs batted in.  This season, he’s struggling hitting .216 with six home runs, 25 runs batted in, 80 total bases and an OPS of .719

Brandon Drury leads Cincinnati in home runs (17), runs batted (40) and total bases (132) in 2022.  This season he’s also hitting .267 with 48 runs scored, 14 doubles, a triple while also leading the Reds in slugging percentage (.518) and OPS (.844).  Shortstop Kyle Farmer is hitting .280 this season; his sixth year in the majors.  He’s second on the Reds in runs batted in with 39; additionally, he has 16 doubles, five home runs with a .756 OPS. 

Tommy Pham was signed by the Reds in late March as a free agent has nine doubles, 11 home runs, 34 runs batted in and six stolen bases on the year.  Additionally, he has 106 total bases with a .775 OPS on the in 2022.  Pham is a lifetime .264 hitter with 108 home runs and 334 runs driven in during his nine-year career.

This season, Taijuan Walker is 6-2 in 13 starts with a 2.72 ERA.  He’s struck out 52 batters and allowed 22 runs in 72 2/3 innings with a 1.170 WHIP in 2022.   Walker has won 48 games in his career with a 3.86 ERA while striking out 726 hitters in 813 1/3 innings. 

New York Mets Vs. Cincinnati Reds Picks & Prediction

New York is 1-4 in their last five road games vs. a right-handed starter.  The Mets are averaging 4.86 runs per nine innings, fifth overall in MLB.  They have a team batting average of .256, fourth in the league, and their OPS is .724, 13^th in baseball.  New York’s pitching staff has allowed 4.15 runs per nine innings, 11^th in MLB with opponents’ batting .238, 12^th in the majors with an OPS of .689 against the club, ninth in the big leagues.  Over is 3-0-1 in the Mets’ last four road games vs. a right-handed starter.

Cincinnati is 0-8 in their last eight home games vs. a right-handed starter.  The Reds are averaging 4.45 runs per nine innings, 18^th overall in MLB.  They have a team batting average of .240, 16^th in the league, and their OPS is .686, 22^nd overall in baseball.  Cincinnati’s pitching staff has allowed 5.78 runs per nine innings, 30^th in MLB with opponents’ batting .258 against the club, 27^th in the league.  Over is 18-8-1 in the Reds last 27 home games vs. a right-handed starter.

In this fourth of July matchup, I expect to see some fireworks from the Mets in the form of the long ball; with New York slugging at least two home runs in the game.  Hunter Greene has allowed a league leading 20 home runs in 2022, while the Mets have hit 74 home runs as a team this year.  New York covers the 1.5 run spread as the teams combine for under 9.5 runs.