Quick Picks with Coach Rick Bowe, MLB Picks, MLB Free Picks, MLB Predictions 5/26/26
- rbowe7447
- May 26
- 4 min read
CINCINNATI @ NY METS (CIN -126, 7.5)
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COACH RICK MLB PREVIEWS
REDS @ METS 5/26/26
After a four-game losing streak in which they have only managed four runs, the New York Mets now have to contend with one of the best starting pitchers in MLB. On Tuesday, the Mets will face the Cincinnati Reds in the middle game of a three-game series in an attempt to break out of their funk. The Mets have not made it official as of yet but plan on starting left-hander David Peterson (3-4, 5.03 ERA) against Reds right-hander Chase Burns (6-1, 1.83).
Nolan McLean had his second consecutive poor start on Monday as the Reds easily won 7-2, continuing New York's losing streak. The Mets' bruised lineup became even thinner after Juan Soto missed his second consecutive game on Monday due to sickness, making the loss their sixth in seven games.
Catcher Francisco Alvarez (right knee), shortstop Francisco Lindor (left calf), first baseman Jorge Polanco (left Achilles), and center fielder Luis Robert Jr. (back) all were Opening Day starters who are now on the Mets injured list. Polanco is the only one who seems to be nearing a rehab assignment.
When the Mets started May with 11 victories in 16 games, outscoring the competition 86-58, they seemed to be settling into shape. But during the last seven games, New York has been outscored 35–16, and the Mets have only managed 11 extra-base hits over that time.
Marcus Semien, who batted cleanup despite coming into the game with a.560 OPS, blasted a home run in the sixth inning, and Brett Baty doubled in the seventh inning, scoring after Carson Benge grounded out, to give New York two extra-base hits on Monday.
"You look at a night like tonight, we got nine hits (and) two runs," Carlos Mendoza, the manager of the Mets, remarked. "It's hard to score three or four of them by just singles. You've got to be able to drive the ball. Right now, we're having a hard time doing that."
For the third time in four games, the Reds' offense scored at least seven runs on Monday despite only having six hits. In just three of its first 18 games this month, Cincinnati has scored at least seven runs. In the second inning of the series opener, the Reds collected one hit and scored twice. Before Spencer Steer produced a two-run single and Tyler Stephenson hit a two-run home run in back-to-back fourth-inning at-bats, JJ Bleday blasted a home run in the third, his ninth round-tripper in 25 games since joining Cincinnati on April 26.
"If you can put up runs early, it just gives our pitchers confidence and (you) kind of can relax a little bit in a way like, 'OK, let's keep pressing, let's keep putting up runs,'" Bleday stated. "But in the back of your mind (you know) we're in a good spot."
Burns has gone undefeated in his last seven starts, finishing 5-0 with a 1.27 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings. He hasn't needed much assistance. In his most recent appearance on May 19, the 23-year-old won his third consecutive start as the Reds defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 while giving up only one run and striking out nine in six innings. Burns has never faced the Mets.
Peterson has won his last three games, most notably on Thursday when the Mets defeated the Washington Nationals 2-1. Peterson allowed just one run in five innings. In five career starts versus the Reds, he is 1-1 with a 4.88 ERA.
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FREE PICK: SPENCER STEER OVER 0.5 HITS
It’s juicy at -190, but all signs point to Steer getting at least one hit tonight. He has a hit in 9 of the last 10 Reds games and 18 of the last 20. Over that span, Steer is averaging 1.2 hits per game. What’s interesting is that Steer has hit safely in each of his last 18 road games. Steer went 1-for-4 yesterday with a run scored and 3 RBIs. In his last 6 games against the Mets, Steer has a hit in 4 of them and he’s had some success against David Peterson, who is supposed to get the bulk of the innings tonight. Steer is 2-for-8 (.250) with a home run, 2 RBIs, and 3 walks against Peterson.
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