BOTTOM LINE: The New York Mets host the Cincinnati Reds to open a three-game series. New York has a 55-42 record overall and a 33-14 record in home games. The Mets rank fourth in the NL with 124 total home runs, averaging 1.3 per game.

The Cincinnati Reds will be facing two left-handed starting pitchers in their first three games after the All-Star break, starting on Friday night. The Mets announced that their rotation coming out of the break will be left-hander Sean Manaea, right-hander Clay Holmes, and left-hander David Peterson, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic.

Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Reds play a three-game series at Citi Field starting on Friday at 7:10 p.m. on SNY. After struggling for about a week following his return from a hamstring injury, Vientos started to look more like the 2024 version of himself toward the end of the first half.