The New York Mets look completely lost, and it’s the Cincinnati Reds who look like they might stand to gain because of it.
The Mets lost again on Thursday evening to the Philadelphia Phillies, who swept them in a 4-game series between the two NL East titans. New York actually got off to a punctual start with a 4-run Top of the 1st, but Jesus Luzardo responded by retiring 22 straight Mets as his Phillie bats rallied, the end result yet another Mets loss as their season unravels.
Now, the Reds sit just
1 game back in the loss column from the Mets (and 1.5 games back in the Wild Card chase overall). Next up for Cincinnati, in timely fashion, is a team that’s as geographically lost as New York is metaphysically.
The poor Athletics are plying their trade at a AAA ballpark in Sacramento this year, fresh off their owner’s callous decision to exit Oakland for a future in Las Vegas that’s still very, very, very much up in the air. The A’s are just 67-80 on the season as they rebuild around Nick Kurtz & Co., and their home stadium has served as a dinger paradise for almost any and all hitter who’s set foot in it.
To date, A’s pitchers have served up 115 homers in home games this year, with only Coors Field (122) having yielded more to home-sided pitching staffs in 2025. The .346 wOBA A’s pitchers have yielded at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento is similarly behind only what Rockies pitchers have allowed in Coors, suggesting that a Reds offense that has struggled so mightily at times this year might actually be set up to feast in the coming days.
Luckily for the Reds, the A’s also have a trio of right-handed starting pitchers lined up to face them, meaning the Reds will dodge lefty starters for the time being. Each of JT Ginn, Luis Severino, and Luis Morales are scheduled to start for the opposition, and that’s a net positive – remember, Cincinnati hitters own just a 78 wRC+ against LHP in 2025 (3rd worst ahead of only Colorado and Pittsburgh), but their .317 wOBA against RHP ranks a semi-respectable 15th overall.
The Reds also have perhaps their three hottest starters lined up to face the A’s this series. Brady Singer, who has pitched to a stellar 2.11 ERA in 47.0 IP across 8 games since I mentioned he might be a potential non-tender candidate, will start the opener on Friday night. He’ll be followed by Hunter Greene on Saturday and Nick Lodolo in the series finale Sunday afternoon.
The Reds, despite all their extra-inning faults and foibles of late, are in this, man. It’s appointment viewing for you tonight even though it’s a late start on the east coast – 10:05 PM ET.
Turn on, tune in, and drop a bunt down the 3B line.
