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

Previewing the pitching matchups: Reds vs. Mets

Sonny Gray (2-6 4.50 ERA) kicks off the festivities tonight, facing Carlos Carrasco (0-0 0.00 ERA) of the Mets. It’s been a tough two-month stretch for the Reds right-hander. Over his last seven starts, Gray has pitched more than five innings twice and compiled a 5.08 ERA.

His two post-All-Star break outings have been particularly worrisome. Tossing just eight frames, the Vanderbilt alum has allowed 14 hits, 13 runs, and three round-trippers. Needless to say, if the Reds are to mount a series threat to the Brewers over the final two months, this is not going to get it done.

Right-hander Carlos Carrasco will be making his season debut this evening. Acquired from the Cleveland Guardians, oops…sorry, Indians, in the Francisco Lindor deal this past winter, Carrasco suffered a hamstring injury in March that has kept him on the shelf all season.

More from Blog Red Machine

• Reds: Tucker Barnhart’s time is over, time to embrace Tyler Stephenson
• Reds vs. White Sox: Pitching preview, prediction, and more
• Reds: Reiver Sanmartin adds another twist to offseason roster construction
• Reds: Signing Tyler Mahle to a contract extension should be a top priority
• Reds: Reiver Sanmartin should get first major league start vs Pirates

The Reds and Carrasco are no strangers to one another. Unfortunately, the 34-year-old Venezuelan has dominated the Redlegs posting a 3-0 record with a 2.45 ERA in their last five meetings.

Saturday evening finds Wade Miley (8-4 2.86 ERA) toeing the rubber against fellow southpaw Rich Hill (6-4 3.95 ERA). Give Wade Miley credit. He may not always win, but he always battles and gives the Reds an opportunity to win.

A perfect example was his most recent start earlier this week against the Cubs. Even though he allowed a dozen base runners in just 4.1 innings, Miley was bending, but he never broke. The Louisiana native yielded just three runs to the Cubbies and left the game with the Reds holding a 5-3 lead.

A former 36th round pick of the Reds in the 1999 draft, Rich Hill makes his second start as a Met tomorrow night. The 41-year-old Hill was acquired in a trade last week with the Minnesota Twins to bring stability to a rotation ravaged by injuries.

In his 17th big league season, Hill has befuddled the Redlegs over the years. Since 2007 the left-hander is 3-1 with a microscopic 1.27 ERA in five starts. This streak of excellent starts began in September of 2007 as Hill bested Aaron Harang at GABP as a member of the Chicago Cubs.

Sunday’s matinee series finale features Vladimir Gutierrez (5-3 4.75 ERA) opposing Marcus Stroman (7-9 2.63 ERA) of the Metropolitans. We can only hope this outing goes better for Gutierrez than his last start versus the Mets.

Lasting just four frames, the right-hander allowed six runs on nine hits, including three round-trippers. At this point, it seems the Reds are willing to roll with Gutierrez as their number five starter despite surrendering 44 hits and 18 free passes in his last 37.2 innings.

On the other end of the spectrum is Marcus Stroman, who made the Redlegs look ridiculous in their last meeting. Hurling eight shutout innings, the right-hander allowed just an Aristides Aquino single while baffling the Reds in a 7-0 blowout Mets victory.