Mets vs. Reds: RHP Bartolo Colon vs. RHP Alfredo Simon

New York Mets (66-74) vs. Cincinnati Reds (66-74)

RHP Bartolo Colon (12-11, 4.01 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, .264 OAV) vs. RHP Alfredo Simon (13-9, 3.28 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, .240 OAV)

Friday, September 5, 2014: 7:10 p.m. at Great American Ball Park

Stunningly still a member of the New York Mets, Colon survived the club’s extensive efforts to ship him off both before and after the deadline, due to the influx of young pitching the club has on tap.

Starts have been hit or miss for Colon in 2014. Only two starts all season were either not quality, or had allowed less than five runs. His last start at home against Philadelphia fit the bill of the latter requirement, being lit up for six runs on nine hits in just 5.1 innings of work.

Colon did not pitch in the series when the two teams met back in early April, but having been a member of a Major League roster since 1997, his career record against the Reds 3-1 with a 4.15 ERA in four career starts. In 2013, as a member of the Oakland A’s, he surrendered five runs on seven hits while pitching just 2.2 innings.

Here is the lineup he will face via the team’s Twitter account:

CF – Billy Hamilton (yet to face Colon)

3B – Todd Frazier (0-for-1, 1 BB, 1 K)

C – Devin Mesoraco (yet to face Colon)

RF – Jay Bruce (1-for-2, 1 HR, 3 RBI)

2B – Brandon Phillips (1-for-12, 1 RBI, 2 K’s)

1B – Brayan Pena (1-for-1, 1 RBI)

LF – Jason Bourgeois (yet to face Colon)

SS – Ramon Santiago (11-for-26, 3 2B’s, 1 3B, 3 RBI, 2 K’s)

P – Alfredo Simon (yet to face Colon)

* * *

Amid great uncertainty as it pertains to the freshness of Alfredo Simon’s right arm, it seemed that he was reaching his peak for innings pitched. His last two times out have produced quality starts, a sign that he may not be cooked just yet.

The journey of the 2014 season has now come full circle for Simon, who got his first start of the year against the Mets back on April 6. He tossed seven innings and allowed only a single run, but in the interest of saving his arm, he was pulled after just 79 pitches.

Questions of fatigue have been extenuated in the case of Simon due to his steadily climbing ERA. Over the course of his career, from June on, it continuously climbs until by the time it reaches September/October, it is more than two full runs from where it was in June. (4.84 in Sep./Oct. compared to 2.83 in June)

Here is the lineup he will face via the team’s Twitter account:

CF – Juan Lagares (yet to face Simon)

LF – Matt den Dekker (yet to face Simon)

3B – David Wright (0-for-3, 1 K)

1B – Lucas Duda (0-for-1)

C – Travis d’Arnaud (yet to face Simon)

RF – Curtis Granderson (0-for-9, 2 BB’s, 5 K’s)

2B – Dilson Herrera (yet to face Simon)

SS – Wilmer Flores (yet to face Simon)

P – Bartolo Colon (yet to face Simon)

With both teams deadlocked at 66 wins apiece, whoever exits the series with the victory will have the higher place in the standings down the stretch.

It is also Irish Heritage Day down at the yard, meaning the Reds will be the “Greens,” wearing green inside the logo and numbers. Maybe it will take some luck of the Irish to turn these Redlegs around.