Tuesday, April 20, 1999
SCOUTING REPORT
Mets (8-5) at Reds (4-7)
• Where: Cinergy Field
• When: 7:05 p.m. today, 7:30p.m. Wednesday (moved back for TV), 7:05 p.m. Thursday
• Radio: WLW-AM (700)
• TV: Today (Fox Sports Net Ohio).
At the plate
With $91 million catcher Mike Piazza on the disabled list, the Mets lose their most potent bat (.429 and eight RBI). But this is no one-man show; first baseman John Olerud, as usual, is among NL leaders in batting average (.364) and free-agent signee third baseman Robin Ventura is hitting .319 with 11 RBI. New York also has speed this year with center fielder Roger Cedeno and seemingly ageless outfielder Rickey Henderson (.333).
Reds first baseman Sean Casey still leads the NL in batting average at .450, but veterans Barry Larkin (.186) and Greg Vaughn (.195) are off to painfully slow starts.
On the mound
• Today: RH Pete Harnisch (1-1, 2.51) vs. RH Orel Hershiser (1-1, 4.66)
• Wednesday: LH Denny Neagle (0-0, 0.00) vs. RH Masato Yoshii (1-1, 5.25)
• Thursday: RH Brett Tomko (0-0, 6.61) vs. LH Al Leiter (0-2, 5.85).
Neagle is making his first start of the season after spending most of the spring on the DL with weakness in his shoulder.
Outlook
The Reds have lost four of five at home this season, and find themselves in last place in the NL Central despite being outscored by only four runs this season (55-51). Hitting with runners in scoring position (.219) has been a key culprit, and it doesn't get any easier against the Mets, who spent money in the offseason to field a contender.
Reds Stories
