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Jul 6, 2010 - 5:04 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Cincinnati (47-36) at New York (46-36), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Joey Votto and Johan Santana aren't All-Stars, but Votto still has a chance to become one. Hitting the New York Mets hard again would likely help his cause.

The Cincinnati first baseman looks to continue his hot hitting when the Reds face Santana and the stumbling Mets in the middle game of this series.

Votto and Santana (5-5, 3.41 ERA) were both left off the NL All-Star team Sunday. While the Mets ace has been inconsistent in 2010, Votto is enjoying a strong season and stood out as an omission.

However, the Reds slugger can still earn his first All-Star appearance via the final fan vote, for which the winner will be announced Thursday.

Votto has been making a strong case to join teammates Brandon Phillips, Scott Rolen and Arthur Rhodes on the NL roster, hitting .455 with six homers and 11 RBIs in his last nine games. Votto's 21 homers on the season are tied with Toronto's Jose Bautista for the major league lead, and four fewer than his career high set last year.

His play is a big reason the surprising Reds (48-36) lead St. Louis by two games atop the NL Central.

Also among the NL leaders with 59 RBIs, Votto showed no signs of slowing Monday as he collected three hits - including two solo homers - to lead Cincinnati to an 8-6 win over the Mets (46-37).

"My home runs wouldn't have meant anything," Votto said, "if we didn't get the win."

Facing New York again may only improve his All-Star chances. Votto is batting .462 with six homers and 12 RBIs in his last 10 games versus the Mets, and three of his seven career homers against them have come at pitcher-friendly Citi Field.

Votto is 3 for 10 against Santana, who is seeking to win for just the second time in eight starts.

A four-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young Award winner, the left-hander is 1-3 with a 3.40 ERA in his last seven trips to the mound, receiving two runs of support or fewer in six of them - all Mets losses.

That trend continued Thursday, as Santana yielded one run with seven strikeouts in seven innings but didn't get a decision in a 2-1 loss at Washington.

He's 3-0 with a 3.57 ERA in four career starts against Cincinnati.

The Mets, 7-9 since an eight-game winning streak, could get a lift from the expected return of Jose Reyes, who has missed six games with a sore back after posting a .372 average with five homers, 11 RBIs and 21 runs in his last 20 games.

The shortstop, who was named to his third All-Star team Sunday, took some swings before Monday's loss.

"He can swing from the right side right now, as we speak," manager Jerry Manuel said.

The Reds are hoping Aaron Harang (6-7, 5.02) will be able to start this contest after he was scratched Monday expected due to lower back pain. Rookie Travis Wood started in his place as the Reds won for the fifth time in six games.

If he's healthy enough to pitch, Harang will get another chance to surpass his win total from each of the past two seasons. The right-hander allowed three runs in 6 1-3 innings and didn't get a decision in Wednesday's 4-3 home victory win over Philadelphia.

Harang has lost three straight starts to the Mets, posting a 7.90 ERA in those outings.