Tonight's Mets Starting Lineup vs Reds - Game 42

Tonight's Mets Starting Lineup vs Reds - Game 42

1. Daniel Murphy-2B
2. Rick Ankiel-CF
3. David Wright-3B
4. Lucas Duda-LF
5. Marlon Byrd-RF
6. Ike Davis-1B
7. John Buck-C
8. Ruben Tejada-SS
9. Shaun Marcum-P

Mets Notes: Daniel Murphy remains in the lead-off slot and Ike Davis moves down to the six slot...

Mets News: Mets sign David Aardsma to minor league contract

Mets News:

The Mets have signed reliever David Aardsma to a minor-league deal, the team announced Monday on twitter . He will report to Triple-A Las Vegas.

Aardsma, 31, spent spring training with the Yankees but didn't make the final roster. He then signed a minor-league deal with Miami that included a clause that he could opt out of the deal if he wasn't promoted to the majors within a month, and he exercised that right last week.

The right-hander had 69 saves for Seattle spanning 2009-10, but Tommy John surgery, and other injuries, cost him all of 2011 and nearly the entire 2012 season. He appeared in one game for the Yankees in 2012, pitching one inning. He's 13-15 with a 4.22 ERA in his career.

Preview: Game 42 - Reds at Mets - Cueto vs Marcum

Cincinnati Reds (26-18) at New York Mets (17-24)													7:10 PM ET
	Season				Rd/Hm		Last Start						Last 3 App
STARTERS	GS	REC	ERA	AIP	REC	ERA	DATE	OPP	DEC	IP	H	ER	REC	IP	ERA
J. Cueto (R)	3	1-0	2.60	6.0	0-0	2.08	4/13	@PIT	ND	4.1	2	1	1-0	17.1	2.60
S. Marcum (R)	4	0-4	6.75	5.2	0-2	9.35	5/15	@STL	L	6.2	5	2	0-2	15.2	6.32

Preview:

Cincinnati ace Johnny Cueto makes his first appearance in more than a month on Monday night when the Reds visit Citi Field for the first of three games with the New York Mets.

The 27-year-old Dominican led the Reds with 19 victories last season, but had his 2013 short-circuited early with a strained right lat muscle that landed him on the 15-disabled list as of April 14.

He hasn't pitched since a day earlier, when he was touched for two hits and a run in 4 1/3 innings at Pittsburgh in a game the Reds ultimately lost, 3-1.

In three overall appearances prior to the injury, Cueto allowed five runs on 12 hits in 17 1/3 innings, with six walks and 18 strikeouts.

He's 1-3 in six career meetings with the Mets.

For New York, righty Shaun Marcum makes a sixth attempt at a first win in a Mets uniform.

The 31-year-old Kansas City native was 7-4 in 21 starts with Milwaukee last season, then signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Mets in January.

He dropped a 9-4 decision to Philadelphia in his debut outing on April 27, and has subsequently lost three decisions in four starts while posting a 6.75 earned run average.

Marcum is 1-1 in four lifetime meetings with the Reds.

Mets Series Matchup Report: Mets Hitters vs Reds Starters (Games 42-44)

Mets Series Matchup Report:

NEW YORK METS (17-24, fourth place/NL East) vs. CINCINNATI REDS (26-18, second place/NL Central)

Monday 5/20: RHP Shaun Marcum (0-4, 6.75) vs. RHP Johnny Cueto (1-0, 2.60), 7:10 p.m. ET

Tuesday 5/21: LHP Jonathon Niese (3-4, 5.40) vs. RHP Mike Leake (3-2, 3.72), 7:10 p.m. ET

Wednesday 5/22: RHP Matt Harvey (5-0, 1.55) vs. RHP Mat Latos (4-0, 2.91), 1:10 p.m. ET

The Mets will face the hot hitting Reds... The Mets have had success against RHP Johnny Cueto who they face in game one. The Mets as a team have hit Cueto well batting .366 (26 for 71).. Rick Ankiel is batting .438 vs Cueto with a HR.. Marlon Byrd is batting .545 (6 for 11) vs Cueto...

New York Mets Career statistics vs. Johnny Cueto (1-3 - 5.45 ERA - 36 K's)
BATTER	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Rick Ankiel	16	7	1	0	1	6	1	4	.438	.471	.688	1.158
John Buck	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	.000
Marlon Byrd	11	6	1	0	0	0	1	2	.545	.583	.636	1.220
Ike Davis	6	2	0	0	0	0	0	3	.333	.333	.333	.667
Lucas Duda	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	.333	.333	.333	.667
Daniel Murphy	7	2	0	0	0	1	1	1	.286	.444	.286	.730
Kirk Nieuwenhuis	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	.333	.333	.333	.667
Justin Turner	3	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	.667	.667	1.000	1.667
Jordany Valdespin	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	.000
David Wright	17	5	0	0	1	4	1	2	.294	.333	.471	.804
Totals	71	26	3	0	2	11	4	17	.366	.408	.493	.901

In Game two the Mets will face crafty RHP  Mike Leake... The Mets as a team combined are batting .269 (21 for 78) Lucas Duda is batting 1.000 (3 for 3 ) vs  Leake,  while David Wright is only batting .100 (1 for 10) vs Leake..

New York Mets Career statistics vs. Mike Leake (1-1 - 1.65 ERA - 16 K's)
BATTER	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Rick Ankiel	8	3	1	0	0	0	0	1	.375	.375	.500	.875
Mike Baxter	7	3	0	0	0	0	0	2	.429	.429	.429	.857
Marlon Byrd	15	3	1	0	0	0	0	3	.200	.200	.267	.467
Ike Davis	8	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	.125	.125	.250	.375
Lucas Duda	3	3	0	0	0	1	0	0	1.000	1.000	1.000	2.000
Daniel Murphy	10	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	.100	.100	.200	.300
Kirk Nieuwenhuis	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	.333	.333	.333	.667
Ruben Tejada	4	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	.500	.500	.500	1.000
Justin Turner	7	3	0	0	0	0	1	0	.429	.500	.429	.929
Jordany Valdespin	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	.000
David Wright	10	1	0	0	0	0	2	4	.100	.250	.100	.350
Totals	78	21	4	0	0	2	3	13	.269	.296	.321	.617

In Game three the Mets will face tough RHP Mat Latos, who has had the Mets number in the past.
The Mets are only batting a meager .217 (13 for 60) off Latos. The Mets will have their work cut out for them... Daniel Murphy , who is second on the Mets in AB's vs Latos  batting .333 (3 for 9). David Wright  who leads the team in AB's vs Latos is batting .182 (2 for 11) with 5 K's.

New York Mets Career statistics vs. Mat Latos (2-1 -  2.70 ERA - 32 K's)
BATTER	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Rick Ankiel	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	.000
Mike Baxter	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.250	.250	.250	.500
John Buck	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	.000	.000	.000	.000
Marlon Byrd	4	2	1	0	0	1	2	1	.500	.667	.750	1.417
Ike Davis	6	0	0	0	0	0	2	1	.000	.250	.000	.250
Lucas Duda	6	2	1	0	0	2	0	3	.333	.333	.500	.833
Daniel Murphy	9	3	1	0	0	0	0	2	.333	.333	.444	.778
Kirk Nieuwenhuis	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.333	.333	.333	.667
Ruben Tejada	5	1	1	0	0	0	1	1	.200	.333	.400	.733
Jordany Valdespin	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.500	.500	.500	1.000
David Wright	11	2	1	0	1	3	3	5	.182	.357	.545	.903
Totals	60	13	5	0	1	6	8	18	.217	.309	.350	.659

Mets Fan Poll: Should the Mets Send Down Ike Davis??

In our latest fan poll, we are asking the fans if Ike Davis should be sent down... Please Vote down below or on our right side bar..

Here are Ike Davis' dreadful Stats:

Year	Tm	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA
2013	NYM	39	135	14	21	2	0	4	9	0	0	14	46	.156

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/20/2013.