Game: New York Mets @ Atlanta Braves
Time: 7:20 p.m.
Odds: Mets +148, Braves -161
Total: 9.5
In preparation for this week’s crucial road series against the Atlanta Braves, the New York Mets have lined up their best veteran pitchers. The Mets are hoping this trip to Atlanta goes better than their previous one.
In the first game of a three-game series against Atlanta, New York will try to get back on track. A right-handed pitching duel features the Mets’ Carlos Carrasco (2-2, 5.74 ERA) and Bryce Elder (3-0, 1.92).
Neither team played on Monday. Brandon Belt’s tie-breaking two-run homer in the seventh inning on Sunday helped the visiting Toronto Blue Jays win 6-4 and sweep a three-game series, dropping the Mets to .500.
Eddie Rosario’s game-winning grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning helped the Braves defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks in the decisive game of their three-game series on Sunday, 8-5.
After completing a three-game sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday to move three games over .500 for the first time in a month, the Mets lost three straight to Toronto to end a discouraging six-game homestand. Toronto trailed for just three innings in the three games and outscored the Mets 11-5. In the sweep of Philadelphia, the Mets managed just 10 runs total.
This is the first trip to Atlanta for the Mets since late September last season. The Braves swept a three-game series by defeating Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, and Chris Bassitt. The three wins gave the Braves a 10-9 advantage in the season series and the tiebreaker for the division title when both teams had records of 101-61.
The Braves split a six-game West Coast trip last week. It started when the Braves lost two straight to baseball’s worst team, the Oakland A’s. Rosario’s grand slam on Sunday gave the Braves momentum as they returned home.
Carrasco earned the victory last Wednesday when the Mets defeated the Phillies 4-1. He will be followed in the rotation by former Cy Young Award winners Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. In five career games (four starts), Carrasco has a 2-2 record and a 4.30 ERA against the Braves. The Mets have won each of Carrasco’s last four starts.
Elder pitched 7.1 innings and allowed one run in last Tuesday’s loss to Oakland. He was not involved in the decision. Last August 6, Elder made his only appearance against the Mets, pitching in relief and allowing three runs over 2.1 innings as the Braves lost 8-5. In 11 starts this season, Elder has given up more than two earned runs just twice. Atlanta is 8-3 in games that Elder has started this year.
The Mets are now 5.5 games behind the Braves and can gain some ground in this series. If history is any indication, gaining that ground is going to be difficult. The Mets are just 1-6 SU in their last seven trips to Atlanta. The Braves have won eight of the last ten games against the Mets.
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