The New York Mets playoff chances are slim, trailing Milwaukee by 4.5 games for the second NL Wild Card spot, but they are still alive! With only 8 games remaining in the regular season, New York cannot afford a loss today when they conclude their 3-game set with the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Two hurlers, who switched teams at the trade deadline, are expected to oppose each other, with Marcus Stroman getting the nod for the Mets and Trevor Bauer for the Reds. Since joining New York from Toronto, Stroman has pitched well, going 3-2, with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. Bauer, on the other hand, has been shaky since being acquired by Cincinnati from Cleveland, going 2-4, with an elevated ERA of 6.39 and a 1.42 WHIP. The Mets have had success against the Reds, winning 24 of the last 33 meetings overall and 14 of the last 20 in Cincinnati. New York needs to win this game and they know it.
TODAY’S PICK: NEW YORK METS