Ny Mets Mets vs Atlanta Braves Picks and Predictions July 26th 2024

Mets’ Kodai Senga Set for Season Debut vs. Braves

Kodai Senga will finally get back to the New York Mets on Friday night. The Atlanta Braves trust Friday will finally mark their hotly anticipated return to hostile structure. Senga is slated to make his 2024 presentation when the Mets have the slipping Braves in the second challenge of a key four-game series between the National League East rivals. Senga, who hasn’t pitched this season because of a right shoulder injury, is planned to go against individual right-hander Charlie Morton (5-5, 3.92 ERA).

Mets’ New Achievement

The Mets remained hot Thursday night, when Jeff McNeil hit the walk-off RBI single in the 10th inning to lift New York to a 3-2 win in the series opener. The victory continued with a broad resurgence for the Mets, who lead the majors with a 32-15 record since May 30. New York, which was as many as 11 games under .500 earlier this season, has bobbed into the second NL wild-card position and is only a half-game behind the Braves.

“We’ve progressed significantly from the start of the year and we’ve placed ourselves in a decent spot and we’re playing some great baseball,” McNeil said. “We’ll see what happens.”

Senga’s Potential Impact

The Mets are curious to see what Senga can bring to a rotation in need of pitchers who can provide length. New York’s starters have averaged just 4.95 innings in the first seven games following the All-Star break. Senga finished second in the NL Rookie of the Year and seventh in NL Cy Young Award balloting last year, when he went 12-7 with a 2.92 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 166 1/3 innings. He posted a 4.15 ERA in four rehab starts split between Class-A Brooklyn and Triple-A Syracuse.

“Will be the first time I’m watching him pitch live,” first-year Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Been a long road for him and for all of us. I’m just excited that we’re finally getting our guy back here, and he’s going to be a huge help for us.”

Braves’ Offensive Struggles

The undermanned Braves, who are missing arrangement stalwarts Ronald Acuna Jr. (torn left ACL), Ozzie Albies (broken left wrist), and Michael Harris II (strained left hamstring), have been in search of a lift for the majority of two months. The Braves outhit the Mets 7-3 on Thursday however ran into key outs in the 10th and tenth innings, when Whit Merrifield was tossed out attempting to steal third and Ramon Laureano got found out in a summary following a bungled self destruction just barely get attempt by Jarred Kelenic.

“When you’re not scoring runs, man, you’ve got to play pretty much clean baseball,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said.

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Braves’ Offensive Decline

Atlanta, which completed inside the best three in the NL in runs in each of the past five seasons, has scored three runs or less multiple times in their past 46 games. The Braves have gone 22-24 in that span. They are only one game ahead of the Padres, who possess the third NL wild-card spot, and three different teams are inside 1 1/2 games of San Diego.

“There’s a certain time that you must get it rolling,” said Braves left-hander Chris Sale, who gave up two runs and two hits north of 7 1/3 innings Thursday. “Simply trusting it’s as soon as possible.”

Past Matchups

Senga won his solitary start against the Braves last Aug. 13, when he gave up three runs more than six innings in the Mets’ 7-6 triumph. Morton didn’t factor into the choice on Saturday after allowing one run north of six innings in the Braves’ 3-2, 10-inning prevail upon the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a doubleheader. He is 7-6 with a 3.58 ERA in 24 career games (23 starts) against the Mets, remembering 1-0 with a 3.55 ERA for two starts this season.

Conclusion

As the Mets and Braves proceed with their series, all eyes will be on Kodai Senga’s hotly anticipated return to the hill. With the two teams endeavoring to get their situations in the playoff race, the result of this game could have significant implications. The Mets are riding a wave of late achievement, while the Braves are desperately searching for a resurgence in their offense. The performance of Senga and Morton will be crucial in deciding the course of this key matchup.