The New York Mets (53-48) are flying high at the moment. A two-game sweep of the New York Yankees, including a 12-3 demolition on Wednesday, puts them in the second Wild Card spot entering Thursday. Francisco Lindor has been right at the front of the team’s turnaround, making an MVP case out of the leadoff spot. The Mets will get their final look at the Atlanta Braves (54-46), who look a lot different in comparison to when these teams last met in in May. Injuries to Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, and Max Fried put this team in a difficult spot as the trade deadline approaches. Let’s take a look at some notes ahead of the four pitching matchups.
Photo by Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Thursday, July 25, 2024: LHP Chris Sale (13-3, 2.70 ERA) vs. RHP Luis Severino (7-3, 3.58 ERA)
Where would the Braves be without Chris Sale? Injuries to Fried and Spencer Strider would normally be a hammer blow in another year. But with Sale, the team has an ace who appears to be behind his constant injury woes. Since the start of May, the left-hander is 10-2 with a 2.30 ERA in 78 1/3 innings. During that stretch, he has allowed one run or less in 11 of 13 starts. The Mets will have their hands full with Sale, who is 1-0 with a 2.81 EA in three career starts against them.
Luis Severino is coming off one of his better starts of the year. Last Saturday, he threw six scoreless with seven strikeouts against the Miami Marlins. It was just the second time that he had thrown six scoreless innings in any start this season. Severino will be excited to get back to Citi Field to face off against this Braves lineup. In 10 starts at home, he is 4-1 with a 2.82 ERA in 60 2/3 innings. Great overall numbers. Severino last pitched against in Atlanta on May 12. He allowed two runs in five innings, earning a no-decision.
Kodai Senga. Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Friday, July 26, 2024: RHP Charlie Morton (5-5, 3.92 ERA) vs. RHP Kodai Senga (12-7, 2.98 ERA in 2023)
Charlie Morton has been Mr. Reliable in a Braves uniform for the last 3.5 years. He is on pace to make at least 30 starts for the fourth consecutive season. That is hard to find from anyone, let alone a 40-year-old. Morton has been an innings eater all season, although his performances have not been good in recent weeks. He has pitched to a 5.40 ERA in the month of July, earning a no-decision in two consecutive starts. Morton is 7-6 with a 3.58 ERA in 24 career appearances (23 starts) against the Mets.
After missing nearly four months to start the season, Kodai Senga is ready to make his debut. The rotation has done well without him, all things considered. That being said, Senga’s return is a welcome addition. In 16 starts at Citi Field, he was 6-3 with a 2.42 ERA last season. The right-hander won his only ever start against the Braves in August of 2023, allowing three earned runs in six innings. He threw 79 pitches in his final rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse last Saturday. Expect him to have a pitch limit around 85-90.
Tylor Megill. Photo by: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Saturday, July 27, 2024: RHP Spencer Schwellenbach (3-5, 4.62 ERA) vs. RHP Tylor Megill (2-4, 5.08 ERA)
Spencer Schwellenbach made his debut against the Washington Nationals on May 29. He has been a part of the Braves rotation ever since, making another eight starts since the start of June. Schwellenbach’s results have been a mixed bag. He has given up two runs or less in four starts, including two of his last three. But, the right-hander has allowed four runs or more in four starts, including last time out against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. One thing to watch out for? Schwellenbach has yet to allow a run in the first inning across nine starts. Let’s see how the Mets try to attack the rookie in this one.
Christian Scott could return this season despite suffering a UCL sprain in his right elbow. But for now, Tylor Megill is expected to take his spot in the rotation. The right-hander was sent down to Triple-A Syracuse after a start against the Houston Astros on June 29. A massive opportunity for Megill has come out of nowhere. The Mets want to utilize a six-man rotation but with Scott down, they may need to add a starter at the deadline. Megill could force the team to rethink that with a strong performance against their Braves. In nine career appearances against Atlanta, he is 1-3 with a 4.79 ERA
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Sunday, July 28, 2024: RHP Reynaldo López (7-4, 2.12 ERA) vs. LHP David Peterson (5-0, 3.14 ERA)
Over the last two seasons, 128 of 129 Reynaldo López’s appearances came as a reliever. Attempting to project how he would fare as a starter was always going to be difficult. But to his credit, López has been a massive different maker for the Braves. He was a first-time All-Star after to pitching to a 1.88 ERA across 17 starts in the first half. His ability to limit the long ball has been fantastic. López has only surrendered seven home runs, allowing 0.6 home runs per nine in 101 2/3 innings. He will provide a difficult test for the Mets.
Bend but don’t break. That perfectly defines David Peterson’s win against the Marlins on Monday. The left-hander allowed six hits and four walks, yet he only gave up two runs in five innings. Constant traffic on the base paths did not face Peterson, working in and out of trouble again and again. He has made nine starts, none of which have come against Atlanta. Peterson is 3-4 with a 5.12 ERA in 10 career appearances (nine starts) against the Braves.
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