CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Reds close out the regular season hosting the Pirates for a crucial three-game set beginning tonight.
Pittsburgh sits a game ahead of Cincinnati in the race for home field in the National League wild card game, with the two teams likely to meet each other.
The St. Louis Cardinals reduced their magic number for winning the NL Central to one.
The Reds were blanked by the Mets 1-0 at Great American Ball Park yesterday, robbing them of the chance to win their second straight NL Central championship.
They are four games behind the Redbirds with three to play, while the Bucs remain three games back.
Eric Young Jr. singled in the lone run of the game in the third inning as the Mets took two out of three from the playoff-bound Reds.
Mat Latos (14-7) took the hard-luck loss, allowing just four hits and one run in seven innings.
Daisuke Matsuzaka scattered four hits and struck out six for his third win of the season. Latroy Hawkins pitched a perfect ninth for his 13th save of the season.