In the past 24 months, Carlos Carrasco has battled leukemia and rehabbed from a spring training hamstring injury. He will make his season debut on Friday for the New York Mets against the Cincinnati Reds.
“Cookie” made three rehab appearances and did not go very long in any of them. In 6 ²/₃ total innings, he allowed three home runs and posted a 6.75 ERA.
Reds starter Sonny Gray is another former All-Star who has dealt with injuries, leading to a 2-6 season with a 4.50 ERA. “Pickles” has done his best work on the road with a 2-2 record and 3.33 ERA in five starts with just two home runs allowed in 27 innings, but just one of those starts has come after May.
The Reds offense has not been as good on the road, ranking 24th in home runs as opposed to fifth in Cincinnati. They average 5.4 runs per game at home and that number dips for 4.3 on the road.
The Mets have MLB’s best home ERA at 2.71, but the bullpen is wearing down, ranking 22nd in ERA the past 30 days. With Carrasco unlikely to give much length, the Reds will spoil Carrasco’s Mets debut and climb their way back into the NL Central playoff race.
The play: Reds, -110.