The Cincinnati Reds have learned over the past two days just how the New York Mets needed barely more than a week to move from the periphery of the National League playoff race into a wild-card spot.
The Mets (78-64) will look to extend their winning streak to 10 games and complete a series sweep Sunday afternoon when they host the Reds (68-75) in the finale of a three-game set.
Luis Severino (10-6, 3.84 ERA) is slated to start for the Mets against fellow right-hander Julian Aguiar (1-0, 6.48).
The Mets remained red-hot Saturday as Jose Quintana and a trio of relievers combined on a six-hitter in a 4-0 win.
New York entered the game tied with the Atlanta Braves for the final National League wild-card berth. The Mets took over sole possession of the playoff spot by virtue of the Braves’ 9-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday night.
The Mets haven’t lost since they fell 8-5 to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Aug. 28. That defeat dropped New York four games behind the Braves as well as seven games behind the Diamondbacks and six games back of the San Diego Padres in the wild-card race.
But the nine-game winning streak — the Mets’ longest since they won nine in a row from April 3-13, 2018 — has pulled them within two games of the Padres for the first wild card and within a half-game of the Diamondbacks for the second wild card.
The Mets haven’t trailed in any of their last seven wins.
“We’re playing, knock on wood, clean games,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “And it’s good to watch those guys go out there day in and day out — not only preparing, but executing.”
The Reds had their four-game winning streak snapped 6-4 on Friday, when they overcame a pair of two-run deficits before Mark Vientos hit a two-run homer leading off the 10th inning.
Cincinnati mounted several mini-threats Saturday, but Quintana induced double plays in the second and third innings and wriggled out of a jam in the fourth. Tyler Stephenson got to third base with one out before Quintana retired Ty France on a comebacker and induced TJ Friedl to ground out to first.
The Reds finished 0-for-7 with runners on base.
“You hate to think it comes down to two plays, but early on we were taking some good swings and put together some innings,” Reds manager David Bell said. “There’s no question that the Mets’ defense played a big role early in the game of keeping us off the board. And then late, we just weren’t able to get anything going.”
Severino earned the win Monday in his most recent start after allowing one run over seven innings as the Mets beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1. He is 1-0 with a 2.89 ERA in four career starts against the Reds. Severino didn’t factor into the decision against Cincinnati on April 6 despite permitting two runs (one earned) over five innings.
Aguiar made his fourth big league start Monday but didn’t factor into the decision after surrendering two runs over 2 2/3 innings in the Reds’ 5-3 win over the Houston Astros. The 23-year-old has never opposed the Mets.
–Field Level Media
