Mets Look to Keep Rolling in Series Against Braves
The last time the Atlanta Braves visited Queens, they procured a conclusive series win to send the New York Mets into a spiral that took steps to destroy their season. The Braves and Mets will be in quite various positions Thursday night while slipping Atlanta visits scorching New York in the opener of a pivotal four-game series between the National League East rivals.
Pitching Matchup: Sale versus Severino
Braves left-hander Chris Sale (13-3, 2.70 ERA) is scheduled to make his initial start in 11 days against Mets right-hander Luis Severino (7-3, 3.58 ERA).
Ongoing Exhibitions
The race among Atlanta and New York for the top NL wild-card spot developed nearer Wednesday, when the host Braves tumbled to the Cincinnati Reds 9-4 hours before the meeting Mets traveled to a 12-3 win over the New York Yankees and a scope of the two-game Subway Series.
The misfortune was the seventh in the beyond 10 games for Atlanta, which kept a 1 1/2-game lead over the Mets when the second round of the booked day-night doubleheader against the Reds was cut short. The shortened evening finished up a troublesome homestand for the Braves where they went 1-4 and lost second baseman Ozzie Albies (broken left wrist) and All-Star pitcher Max Seared (left lower arm neuritis) to wounds.
Braves’ Struggles
However, Atlanta’s struggles stretch back much further. The Braves are 30-34 and have scored the third-fewest runs in the NL since a 4-1 victory over the Mets on May 11, when they came within one out of the franchise’s first no-hitter in 30 years.
The Braves, who have won six straight NL East crowns, are just two games clear of the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres, who are in a virtual tie for the final NL wild-card spot.
“It’s never easy — it always is magnified when it’s happening to yourself,” Braves first baseman Matt Olson said of the club’s slump. “As a team, don’t feel like we’re clicking.”
Mets’ Resurgence
The Mets are clicking at a level that was unimaginable in the May series against the Braves. New York didn’t lead in the three-game set until Brandon Nimmo’s two-run, walk-off homer lifted New York to a 4-3 win on May 12.
The Mets then lost 13 of their next 16 and fell to 22-33 on May 29, when they had the third-worst record in the NL and were six games out of the third wild-card spot. However, New York has posted the best record (31-15) and scored the most runs (266) in the majors since May 30.
Key Players and Performances
Francisco Lindor hit two of the Mets’ five homers on Wednesday, when they completed their second season-long Subway Series sweep. The Mets also went 4-0 against the Yankees in 2013.
“It’s just great winning — I love winning,” Lindor said. “(The Subway Series) is more for the fans to talk bragging rights and stuff. But for us, you’ve got to take care of business (and) whoever’s on the other side.”
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Sale’s Performance
Sale, whose planned starts Tuesday and in Wednesday’s nightcap were cut short, hasn’t pitched since July 14, when he procured a success in the wake of allowing one run north of five innings in the Braves’ 6-3 triumph over the Padres. He is 1-0 with a 2.81 ERA in three career starts against the Mets.
Severino’s Presentation
Severino procured a success on Saturday when he allowed two hits north of six scoreless innings in the Mets’ 1-0 triumph over the Miami Marlins. He is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in three lifetime starts against the Braves. The 30-year-old didn’t factor into the choice on May 12 when he surrendered two runs more than five or more innings against Atlanta.
Conclusion
As the Mets and Braves get ready to go head to head in this crucial series, the elements have moved essentially since their last experience. The Mets are riding a rush of progress, while the Braves are attempting to keep up with their lead. With vital participants performing at their best, the Mets hope to proceed with their series of wins and harden their situation in the season finisher race. The Braves, then again, need to refocus and track down their mood to remain cutthroat in the tight NL wild-card race.