IGT Sat 9/26 @ Reds: We've waited a long time

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

The third game of the Mets' series at the Reds and a win will give them their first NL East championship since 2006.

Matt Harvey (12-7, 2.80), the Dark Knight of Flushing, leads the Mets into battle.
John "The Sacrificial" Lamb (1-3, 4.60) counters for the Reds.

[Guest d'Kong76]

GAME: New York Mets (87-67) at Cincinnati Reds (63-90)
DATE/TIME: Saturday, September 26 - 4:10 PM EST
WHERE: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Covers Media Group, Ltd.

The New York Mets can capture their first National League East title since 2006 when Matt Harvey takes the mound on Saturday in the third contest of a four-game series versus the host Cincinnati Reds. New York, which has won 10 in a row on the road, can claim the division crown with either its 12th victory in 14 outings versus Cincinnati on Saturday or if second-place Washington falls to Philadelphia.

Lucas Duda crushed a pair of three-run homers in Friday's 12-5 triumph to improve to 5-for-9 with eight RBIs in his last three contests after a 3-for-26 stretch in his previous eight games. Yoenis Cespedes also rebounded from a difficult run (0-for-16) to go 9-for-22 (.409) in his last five contests for the Mets, who own an 8 1/2-game lead over the Nationals. While New York is ready to pop the champagne, Cincinnati might wish to drink away its troubles after losing six in a row and 28 of 40. Joey Votto has reached base safely in a career high-tying 42 consecutive games and is 2-for-6 (.333) in his career versus Harvey.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FSN Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Matt Harvey (12-7, 2.80 ERA) vs. Reds LH John Lamb (1-3, 4.60)

Harvey allowed just one hit and struck out seven in five scoreless innings to lift his season total to 176 2/3, but the early exit against the Yankees and a massive collapse by the Mets' bullpen provided plenty of fodder in the New York tabloids. The 26-year-old will tune up for the postseason versus Cincinnati, against which he permitted one run on four hits in six innings but settled for a no-decision in his last meeting on June 27. Harvey owns a 4-0 mark in his last nine starts and hasn't tasted defeat since a 7-2 setback to Washington on July 20.

Lamb turned in his second scoreless outing in three trips to the mound, but only has one win to show for it. After scattering three hits in an 11-0 victory over St. Louis on Sept. 10, the 25-year-old permitted five hits and struck out six in as many innings of a no-decision versus the Cardinals on Monday. Lamb has kept the ball in the park in three of his last four outings after surrendering a homer in each of his previous four.

WALK-OFFS:
1. New York 2B Daniel Murphy is 14-for-30 (.467) with two homers and seven RBIs during his eight-game hitting streak.
2. Cincinnati RF Jay Bruce is 2-for-19 (.105) - albeit with a pair of solo homers - in his last five contests.
3. Mets 3B David Wright is 15-for-43 (.349) with seven RBIs in his last 11 contests.

[Guest d'Kong76]

[youtube:isw98ppg]W9RZWvuhgHA[/youtube:isw98ppg]

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

So, if the game is close, which bullpen pitchers are allowed to pitch from the 6th inning on?

[Edgy MD]

I imagine they will let their top relievers go.

The Dodgers are going to have about 200 scouts at this game, I think.

So, not having any experience with backing into the playoffs, and seeing that the Nats and Mets both have 4:00-ish starts...

[*:32hhzxli]If the Nats lose while the Mets are still playing, is there a subdued celebration in the clubhouse or dugout, or is there an unwritten rule that you pretend not to notice the out-of-town score until you take care of your own business?

[/*:m:32hhzxli]
[*:32hhzxli]If the Mets don't take care of business � they lose � but the Nats lose shortly before or about the same time they do, do they still charge the field to celebrate after the last out, or is that just terrible form, and they save it for the clubhouse?[/*:m:32hhzxli][/list:o:32hhzxli]

[Guest Mets � Willets Point]

All I know is that if the Mets win & Nats lose somewhat simultaneously I'll have a Tony Clark 00 photo ready to go.

[Frayed Knot]

1) Handshakes and hugs in the dugout plus noise from the NYM fans in attendance.
No big celebrations until after the game in the clubhouse and then the full night ahead of them.

2) No dog pile on the field after a loss and no return to the field after a Nats loss because it's not their field (might do it at home if the time span was short enough). And it would certainly be weird if their celebration was stepping on the Reds' one for winning via a walk-off
But full-on party in the clubby and on into the southwestern Ohio night.

[ashie62]

I believe a read Harvey goes 3 or 4.

[Edgy MD]

I'd hate for the Mets to win the division but show signs of ill breeding.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Granderson, RF
Wright, 3B
Cespedes, CF
Murphy, 2B
d'Arnaud, C
Duda, 1B
Cuddyer, LF
Flores, SS
Harvey, P

Bourgeois, CF
Votto, 1B
Phillips, 2B
Bruce, RF
Frazier, 3B
De Jesus, SS
Duvall, LF
Barnhart, C
Lamb, P

[Edgy MD]

Flip-flopping Murphy and Cespedes.

[Guest d'Kong76]

I never had kids, but I feel like an expectant father this afternoon.
I forgot how it feels to be on the cusp of clinching something!

[Edgy MD]

Thar be baseball.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'm happily surprised, at my age, how giddy I am that the Mets are where they are today. (And I don't mean that they're in Cincinnati.) The clips that SNY showed of previous clinchers gave me goosebumps.

[Edgy MD]

Bo Duke bringing it left-handed for the Reds.

[Edgy MD]

Lambchop is a fast worker. He might get called for not stopping.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

.

Doodooooooooooi

[Guest d'Kong76]

.
[bigpurple:1fuoil54]Duda! SlamBOOM![/bigpurple:1fuoil54]

[Zvon]

unfrigginbelievable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Zvon]

what a rip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lefty Specialist]

Oh my goodness. That was a fucking bullet.

[Zvon]

I was so pumped by that I actually ran around the house yelling UNBELIEVEABLE!!

[Lefty Specialist]

Harvey already a third of the way through his start with no runs allowed.

[Zvon]

GRANDYBOOM!!!!!!

5-0 Mets

[Guest d'Kong76]

.
Curtis[bigpurple:2jandsxi]BOOM!![/bigpurple:2jandsxi]

[Frayed Knot]

I see that this Lamb guy has taken over Mat Latos's spot for the fair-skinned/blond-guy with ridiculous arm tats on Cincy's roster.
I'm surprised Duda's shot didn't make half of them fall off.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

All three Mets hits (including 2 Kabooms) against the left hander Lamb are from the lefties in the line up.

Terry must have told them to just pretend it's O'Flaherty on the mound.

[Guest d'Kong76]

Uh, we're getting off-script here fellas! Not how it was drawn up.

[Frayed Knot]

Nats just had baseball-loaded and no outs ... then didn't score. It's been one of those years for them.
That game is already in the 5th so it's on pace to end before ours.

[Lefty Specialist]

One good thing about the postseason? No Steve Gelbs.