Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Reds play a three-game series at Citi Field.
Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Reds play a three-game series at Citi Field starting on Friday at 7:10 p.m. on SNY.
5 things to watch
Has Mark Vientos turned a corner?
After struggling for about a week following his return from a hamstring injury, Vientos started to look more like the 2024 version of himself toward the end of the first half.
In the Mets' last five games before the All-Star break, Vientos went 7-for-19 with one homer, two doubles, one triple, three RBI, and a .947 OPS.
He also hit the ball incredibly hard with regularity, and began driving the ball with authority to the right-center field gap -- a great sign for a hitter who spayed homers all over the park last season.
As the Mets decide what to do with the trade deadline coming in two weeks, a hot stretch from Vientos could eliminate any possibility of New York exploring the available third basemen, which could include Eugenio Suarez of the Diamondbacks.
The Mets' needs in center field, the bullpen, and the starting rotation are greater than the potential need they have at the hot corner. So Vientos putting that situation to bed would be huge.
Did the break do the Mets' bullpen good?
New York's bullpen was humming along for the first few months of the season, but a barrage of injuries to a starting rotation that already wasn't providing enough length helped lead to overuse.
While the relief corps has several arms capable of pitching in the late innings, the only one consistent enough to be relied on in crunch time right now isEdwin Diaz, who is having a lockdown year.
Reed Garrett mostly stabilized after a few rough outings toward the end of the first half, but Ryne Stanek and Huascar Brazoban were still leaking oil during the Mets' six-game road trip before the All-Star break.
Improvement from Stanek and Brazoban should be expected, and the Mets could get reinforcements very quickly with both Brooks Raley and Jose Butto about to be activated from the IL.
But it will be a shock if New York doesn't add a legitimate late-inning arm before the deadline.
David Wright's Day
Wright will receive the ultimate honor ahead of Saturday's game, when his No. 5 is retired during a pregame ceremony that will air live on SNY.
With Wright's No. 5 getting enshrined, he will join seven other Mets players who have received that honor: Tom Seaver (No. 41), Mike Piazza (No. 31), Jerry Koosman (No. 36), Keith Hernandez (No. 17), Willie Mays (No. 24), Dwight Gooden (No. 16), and Darryl Strawberry (No. 18).
The Mets' other retired numbers are No. 37 for manager Casey Stengel, No. 14 for manager Gil Hodges, and No. 42 for Jackie Robinson, which is retired across baseball. Additionally, broadcasters Bob Murphy and Ralph Kiner have honored marks hung among the retired numbers, as does Bill Shea, who was instrumental in bringing National League baseball back to New York.
Saturday's ceremony will feature plenty of former Mets who impacted Wright during his career in Queens.
SNY's new documentary about Wright, The Wright Way, premieres on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
Reds are right in the thick of it
Cincinnati has reached the playoffs just once since 2013, and that came during the shortened season in 2020.
But they enter the second half of the season with a record of 50-47, trailing the Padres by just 2.5 games for the third and final Wild Card spot in the National League.
A lot of the Reds' success has been on the back of their offense, which has scored 441 runs -- good for sixth-most in the NL.
They've been better in the cozy confines of Great American Ball Park, though, and have lost each of their last three road series (to the Cardinals, Red Sox, and Phillies).
The Elly De La Cruz Show
The 23-year-old De La Cruz is one of the most dynamic and exciting players in baseball, and is in the midst of the best season of his three-year career.
The human highlight reel is hitting .284/.359/.495 with 18 home runs, 18 doubles, three triples, 25 stolen bases, 63 RBI, and 72 runs scored.
De La Cruz has been on a serious tear, too, slashing .347/.406/.595 with six homers in 133 plate appearances over his last 31 games.
While the Reds have a handful of players who can do damage, it's De La Cruz who stands above them all.
Predictions
Who will the MVP of the series be?
Lindor started to heat up before the break.
Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?
¯\_(ツ)_/¯The Mets have not yet announced their rotation plan for the series.
Which Reds player will be a thorn in the Mets' side?
Austin Hays
Hays has an .840 OPS this season.
Category: General Sports
