Mets vs. Reds on July 19, 2025! Clay Holmes duels Nick Martinez as Pete Alonso and Juan Soto power the Mets' hunt for first place in the NL East. Can they win?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It's a beautiful Saturday for baseball in Queens, and the stakes couldn't be higher. After clawing their way through the season, the New York Mets (55-42) wake up just a half-game behind the Phillies for first place in the NL East. Today's 4:10 p.m. showdown against the Cincinnati Reds isn't just another game; it's a chance to claim the top spot and send a message to the rest of the league.
With a pitching staff boasting a 3.56 ERA, fourth-best in MLB, the Mets are proving that dominant arms win pennant races.
The Mets enter today's matchup as heavy -181 favorites, and for good reason. They're sending their ace, Clay Holmes (8-4), to the mound to face the Reds' Nick Martinez. Coming off a gritty 2-1 series win against the Royals, the team has momentum. Every game in this tight divisional race feels like a playoff game, and getting a strong start from Holmes against a solid Reds team (50-47) is critical to setting the tone for the rest of the homestand.
Powering this incredible run is the relentless one-two punch of Pete Alonso and Juan Soto. The Polar Bear is putting together another MVP-caliber season, hitting .277 with 21 homers and a massive 77 RBIs. Right alongside him, Soto has mashed 24 home runs of his own. This offensive firepower, combined with a pitching staff that ranks fourth in all of baseball with a 3.56 ERA, makes the Mets one of the most balanced and dangerous teams in the National League. With no new injuries reported, the core of this team is healthy and firing on all cylinders when it matters most.
While the big-league club battles for the division, the front office is busy building the future, albeit with some constraints. Due to penalties, the Mets have the second-smallest bonus pool in the 2025 draft ($5,465,900) and only two picks in the top 105. This puts immense pressure on the scouting department to find hidden gems. There are no new signings to report from this year's class yet, but fans can look to the success of 2024 draftees like Carson Benge and Nate Dohm as proof that the system can still produce high-impact talent.
For now, all eyes are on Citi Field. A win today doesn't just beat the Reds; it puts immense pressure on the Phillies and could land the Mets atop the NL East. With the trade deadline looming and the farm system working to build the next wave, the present has never felt more important. Let's go get that 'W'.
