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Reds vs. Mets: Pitching preview, prediction, and more

By Scott Boyken

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 29: Jesse Winker #33 of the Cincinnati Reds hits the game winning home run in the ninth inning as Wilson Ramos #40 of the New York Mets defends at Citi Field on April 29, 2019 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.The Cincinnati Reds defeated the New York Mets 5-4. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 29: Jesse Winker #33 of the Cincinnati Reds hits the game winning home run in the ninth inning as Wilson Ramos #40 of the New York Mets defends at Citi Field on April 29, 2019 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.The Cincinnati Reds defeated the New York Mets 5-4. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Starting pitcher, Jeff Hoffman #23 of the Cincinnati Reds, works the first inning.
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 26: Starting pitcher, Jeff Hoffman #23 of the Cincinnati Reds, works the first inning. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Previewing the pitching matchups: Reds vs. Mets

Due to the rash of injuries besetting the Mets rotation, it’s probably easier to tell you who isn’t starting for the Metropolitans this series. Mets’ skipper Luis Rojas has yet to name a starter for any of the games this series, but the Reds know they won’t face Jacob deGrom, who’s injured, and Tylor Megill and Tijuan Walker, who started in Pittsburgh over the weekend.

Rookie Vladimir Gutierrez (4-3 4.29 ERA) gets the call in the opener for David Bell’s squad. The Cincinnati right-hander is coming off a pair of impressive starts in which he’s allowed just three runs in a dozen innings. However, the Cuban rarely makes things easy on himself.

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Tossing 50.1 innings, Gutierrez has issued an unsustainable 23 free passes. To retain his spot in the rotation, the rookie will need to throw more strikes and limit the amount of traffic on the basepaths.

Wade Miley (7-4 2.80 ERA) makes his second-half debut Tuesday night. The left-hander is coming off a spectacular first half which should have led to his second All-Star appearance.

In addition to tossing a no-hitter, Miley’s 4.5 bWAR ranks sixth among all National League players and ahead of starting pitchers Walker Buehler, Corbin Burnes, Yu Darvish, Freddy Peralta, Tijuan Walker, and Brandon Woodruff; all of whom were selected to represent the NL in the All-Star Game. Additionally, Miley was the only player in the Top 10 in bWAR in the senior circuit not chosen for the Midsummer Classic.

Wednesday afternoon’s series finale will feature Jeff Hoffman’s (3-4 4.61 ERA) long-awaited return to the active roster. The right-hander has not made an appearance for the Reds since leaving a May 26th start against the Washington Nationals with a shoulder injury.

Hoffman will be seeking just his second victory since April 16th. But, like Gutierrez, consistently finding the strike zone has been an issue for the New York native. The 28-year-old has walked 27 in only 41 frames, and his 4.11 pitches per plate appearance average is well above the 3.90 league average.

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