Mets vs Reds Preview: Senga Returns to Face Cincinnati

The Reds just put on a hitting clinic. Cincinnati's bats woke up big in the first inning and never stopped. Luis Suárez smashed two home runs, one traveling 406 feet to center field. Spencer Steer and others kept piling on runs. Meanwhile, the Mets' pitchers couldn't find the strike zone. This wasn't close—it was a total takedown. Now both teams sit around .500, but Cincinnati's offense proved something: when they connect, they explode. The Mets need to bounce back fast or this series gets uglier.

Here comes Kodai Senga, the Mets' three-time All-Star pitcher from Japan. Senga has been battling injuries all season, but he's finally ready to pitch. He just threw a rehab start and looked strong—just one earned run over six innings. His fastball crackles. His signature ghost fork dances out of reach. When healthy, Senga dominates hitters. He pitched five times earlier this season with a rough 9.00 ERA, but that was before his arm healed. Tonight, he's got his chance to show New York what he can do at full strength.

Cincinnati's Brady Singer takes the mound for the Reds. He's been inconsistent this season with a 3.86 ERA. The Mets smell blood after that awful loss yesterday. They want revenge. Singer needs to throw strikes and keep hitters off-balance. The Reds' offense lit up the Mets like fireworks. Can Singer keep New York quiet? If he pitches smart and uses his strikeout stuff, Cincinnati stays in control. If not, the Mets' bats could turn the scoreboard around in a hurry.