Pittsburgh Pirates at New York Mets 9/16/22 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The Pittsburgh Pirates play the second game of a four-game series on the road Friday against the New York Mets. Pittsburgh is 55-88 following a 10-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Oneil Cruz hit a two-run home run for the Pirates in the victory. Pittsburgh swept Cincinnati in its four-game series. The Pirates are last in the National League central, 29 games behind first-place and out of postseason contention.

Center fielder Bryan Reynolds is batting .257 with 23 home runs, 54 RBIs, 122 hits and an on-base percentage of .337 to lead Pittsburgh in each category. Left fielder Jack Suwinski is second in home runs with 16 and first baseman Michael Chavis is second in RBIs with 47. On Friday, the Pittsburgh Pirates will send Mitch Keller to the mound. The right-hander is 5-10 with a 4.01 ERA, 115 Ks and 51 BBs.

New York dropped to 89-55 following its 6-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday.  New York has lost four of the last six and seven of its last 11. The Mets were swept in a three-game series by Chicago and New York's lead in the National League East has been cut to just a half-game over the second place Atlanta Braves.

Second baseman Jeff McNeil is batting .321 to lead New York and has team highs in hits with 149 and on-base percentage at .374. First baseman Pete Alonso is the leader in home runs with 35 and RBIs with 111. On Friday, the New York Mets will send Taijuan Walker to the mound. The right-hander is 11-4 with a 3.48 ERA, 106 Ks and 40 BBs.