Reds trio of rookie hurlers look to sparkle as Cincinnati welcomes the Mets to town

Previewing the pitching matchups: Reds vs. Mets

Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene vs. Mets starting pitcher Tijuan Walker

Fireballing Hunter Greene (3-9 5.72 ERA) gets the Independence Day start for your Cincinnati Reds as he'll battle Taijuan Walker (6-2 2.72 ERA) of the Mets. Cincinnati's rookie right-hander was better in his last outing over his previous couple of starts despite being saddled with the loss.

Tossing four innings versus the Chicago Cubs, Greene allowed just two hits while fanning five Cubbies, but allowed three runs. However, the 22-year-old California native kept the ball in the ballpark after allowing five round-trippers in his previous 10 frames of work.

Taijuan Walker will be making just his second career start against the Reds. His only previous start came way back in 2017 when he was a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Cincinnati dented the plate five times in that contest over the right-hander's five innings as both Joey Votto and Scooter Gennett took Walker deep in a Reds' 7-0 shutout victory over the D-backs.

Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo vs. Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer

Fellow Cincinnati rookie Nick Lodolo (1-2 5.52 ERA) makes his first start Tuesday night since suffering a back injury following his last start versus the St. Louis Cardinals on April 24th. His reward for being activated from the IL will be facing future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer (5-1 2.54 ERA) for Buck Showalter's club.

Lodolo was brilliant in his last appearance in a Cincinnati Reds uniform. The lefty held the Cardinals to just one run while fanning seven over 5.2 innings as he collected his first MLB victory. Making three rehab starts for Triple-A Louisville, the southpaw produced an impressive 2.54 ERA as well as recording 16 K's in just 10.2 frames.

Speaking of hurlers returning from the IL, Max Scherzer will be making his first start for the Mets since May 18 against the Cardinals. Following that outing, Mad Max was placed on the shelf with an oblique strain.

Since 2018 Scherzer has abused Cincinnati hitters. In their last five matchups, the right-hander is 4-1 with a microscopic 1.32 ERA. If that's not impressive enough, the three-time Cy Young Award winner has whiffed 51 in only 34 innings in that time span.

Reds starting pitcher Graham Ashcraft vs. Mets starting pitcher TBD

Wednesday night's series finale will feature Cincinnati's third rookie starter in as many days as Graham Ashcraft (4-2 4.53 ERA) toes the rubber for the Redlegs. New York has yet to name a starter to oppose the Cincinnati Reds right-hander.

Ashcraft is looking to rebound following the toughest appearance of his brief MLB career. Lasting just 2.1 innings, the Cubbies crossed the plate seven times as the 24-year-old Alabama native had the shortest outing of his eight big league starts. However, the rookie has been dominant at home going 3-1 with a sparkling 2.59 ERA in four starts at GABP.