New York @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 27, 2011 ) NY Mets 8, Cincinnati 2

THE STORY: The New York Mets can finally move forward after the trade of Carlos Beltran to San Francisco. They certainly showed no ill effects Wednesday by winning their third straight against the fading Cincinnati Reds when they scored eight runs for the second straight night. New York will send Chris Capuano to the mound Thursday afternoon to try to finish their first sweep in Cincinnati since 2003. David Wright and Daniel Murphy have combined for 15 hits in the first three games for the Mets, who have won six of nine. The Reds desperately need a victory with the World Series champion Giants visiting for three this weekend.

TV: 12:35 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Chris Capuano (8-10, 4.26 ERA) vs. Reds RH Homer Bailey (5-4, 3.67).

Capuano has lost three straight games after winning five of his previous six. He has a decision in 18 of 19 games, striking out 98 and walking 35 in 116 1/3 innings. Capuano is 2-3 lifetime with a 4.85 ERA over 68 2/3 innings against the Reds. Brandon Phillips is 10-for-23 with a home run against Capuano. Bailey has won his last two starts after losing four straight decisions. He allowed two runs over six innings against Atlanta in his last outing July 23. Bailey, who is 4-1 at home and 1-3 on the road, has struck out 42 and walked 16 in 61 1/3 innings. He has never faced the Mets.

ABOUT THE METS (53-51): With Beltran gone, Mets manager Terry Collins moved Murphy to the third spot in the lineup in front of Wright and he produced his first career four-hit game. Murphy is 9-for-14 in the series with five RBIs. Wright has been red-hot as well, going 6-for-14 with five RBIs in the last three games and 12-for-27 with 11 RBIs in six games since coming off the disabled list. But Lucas Duda’s second home run of the season was just as important Wednesday. Duda will get plenty of time in right field, taking Beltran’s place. Jose Reyes has scored a run in nine straight games.

ABOUT THE REDS (50-54): Cincinnati has to get more from Jay Bruce if it is to right the ship. Bruce had an amazing month of May, hitting 12 homers and knocking in 33 runs. Since then, the right fielder has hit five home runs and knocked in 13. He has not homered since July 9 and is batting .227 the last two months. The Reds could use more from everyone, but the other two sluggers in the middle of the lineup have picked it up. Phillips is 9-for-26 in his last six games and Joey Votto is 4-for-8 in his last two games with a pair of homers.

FINAL PITCH: The Mets lead the National League in runs scored with two outs (196) and have the most two-out hits of any team in the majors (322).