Reds vs Mets Picks and Prediction – 7/18/2025

The Cincinnati Reds open a three-game series on the road Friday versus the New York Mets. Cincinnati is 50-47 following Sunday’s 4-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies. TJ Friedl hit a home run for Cincinnati, and Terry Francona won his 2,000th game as a manager. Cincinnati trails first-place Chicago by 7 ½ games in the National League Central. Keep up to date with all the MLB action with our MLB picks.

Elly De La Cruz is batting .284 with 18 home runs, 63 RBI, and 105 hits to lead Cincinnati in each of the four categories. TJ Friedl leads in on-base percentage at .368. Cincinnati is batting .246 with a .397 slugging percentage. On Friday, Cincinnati will send Nick Lodolo to the mound. The left-hander is 6-6 with a 3.38 ERA, 97 Ks, and 22 BBs.

The New York Mets look to bounce back from a loss with a victory on Friday when hosting Cincinnati. New York is 55-42 following Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals in the final game before the All-Star Game break. The loss snapped a two-game winning streak for New York. The Mets are second in the National League East, a half-game behind first-place Philadelphia.

Pete Alonso is batting .280 with 77 RBI and 101 hits to lead New York in each of the three categories. Juan Soto leads in home runs with 23 and in on-base percentage at .396. New York is batting .244 with a .416 slugging percentage. New York has not announced its starting pitcher for Friday’s first game of the three-game series at home versus Cincinnati.

The New York Mets will pick up a victory at home on Friday when hosting the Cincinnati Reds, but the play here is UNDER. The UNDER has cashed in four of Cincinnati's last five, four of New York's last five, and four of the Mets’ last five versus the Reds. Cincinnati starter Nick Lodolo has had five consecutive solid outings, allowing seven runs on 23 hits across 27.2 innings. Final Score Prediction: New York Mets win, but our best play is UNDER 3-2.