PREVIEW: Mets at Reds

CINCINNATI (Interstat) — The New York Mets open a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday at Great American Ball Park, with rookie right-hander Chase Burns taking the mound for the visitors.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. EDT under cloudy skies and 67 degrees.

Burns (7-1) has been a bright spot for the Mets, who enter the game at 32-39. The Reds (33-37) look to build momentum after a series split with Arizona.

New York is coming off an 8-1 win over Atlanta on Sunday. Right-hander Freddy Peralta earned the victory, allowing one earned run over five innings with two strikeouts. Peralta has been inconsistent recently — he took a loss against St. Louis on June 9 after surrendering six earned runs in six innings, but posted quality starts in wins over Seattle and Miami prior to that.

Cincinnati dropped Sunday’s series finale 5-3 to the Diamondbacks. Left-hander Andrew Abbott took the loss despite allowing just one run over five innings. Abbott has been steady recently — he has allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his last four starts, though he is 1-3 in that span.

The Reds won two of three games in New York from May 25-27, outscoring the Mets 16-8 in the series. Abbott started the May 27 matchup, allowing two runs over six innings in a 4-2 loss.

The Mets’ lineup welcomes center fielder A.J. Ewing, who went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs on Sunday. Outfielder JJ Bleday homered for Cincinnati in the loss to Arizona.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 4-3 Mets victory.

Following Monday’s game, the teams play Tuesday and Wednesday in Cincinnati. The Mets then travel to Philadelphia for three games, while the Reds head to New York for a weekend series against the Yankees.