Atlanta Braves vs. New York Mets Pick & Prediction JULY 28th 2024

Stadium: Citi Field New York City
Logo Atlanta Braves
VS
Logo New York Mets
8
OPENER
-110
8o -113
CURRENT
-1.5 +191
-107
MONEYLINE
-113
9
SCORE
2

Preview and Prediction

Providing a much-needed boost to the struggling Atlanta Braves on Saturday afternoon was one of the least experienced starting pitchers in the majors.

The gem delivered by Atlanta's rookie right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach also served as a reminder to the New York Mets of their suddenly thinning starting pitching depth.

In the final regular season meeting between the two teams, the Braves will aim to salvage a split of the pivotal four-game series on Sunday afternoon.

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Taking the mound for Atlanta will be All-Star right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (7-4, 2.12 ERA), while the Mets will counter with left-hander David Peterson (5-0, 3.14).

Schwellenbach's impressive performance on Saturday marked the best start of his young career, as he allowed just two hits, walked none, and struck out 11 over seven scoreless innings to earn the win in the Braves' 4-0 victory.

This standout outing came at a crucial time for Atlanta, who had been in the midst of a six-game losing streak in which they were outscored 39-18. This was the Braves' longest losing streak since September 2017, when Schwellenbach was still a 17-year-old high school senior in Michigan.

"We were on a six-game losing streak," Schwellenbach reflected. "I dug a little deeper today. We really needed that win."

This victory propelled the Braves into a tie with the Mets for the top wild-card spot in the National League. Despite their loss on Saturday, the Mets still hold the best record in the majors since May 30 at 33-16. However, they will now have to continue their push for the playoffs without right-hander Kodai Senga, who suffered a high-grade left calf strain in his season debut on Friday and is likely to miss the rest of the regular season.

Senga's injury comes just four days after rookie right-hander Christian Scott was placed on the injured list with a right UCL sprain. With these two pitchers now out, the Mets' rotation depth has taken a hit, as only Tylor Megill has pitched into the seventh inning in nine games since the All-Star break.

"We have five legitimate starters here who have put us in the position we're in right now," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza stated before Saturday's game. "Other guys will step up and get opportunities, and we'll be fine."

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On Monday, Lopez took the loss against the Cincinnati Reds, allowing four runs over six innings. In his career, he holds a 2-2 record with a 2.66 ERA in seven games (three starts) against the Mets. One of those starts came on April 9, when he tossed six scoreless innings and earned the win in a 6-5 victory over New York.

Peterson, who earned the win on Monday against the Miami Marlins, will take the mound for the Mets. In 10 games (nine starts) against the Braves, he holds a 3-4 record with a 5.12 ERA.

PREDICTION
Atlanta Braves
4
5
New York Mets

Atlanta Braves vs. New York Mets Recap JUL 28TH 2024

Matt Olson opened the scoring with a three-run homer in the fourth inning Sunday afternoon for the visiting Atlanta Braves, who salvaged a split of a four-game series by beating the New York Mets 9-2.

Orlando Arcia, Austin Riley and Ramon Laureano also homered for the Braves, who outscored the Mets 13-2 in winning the final two games of the series. Riley finished with two hits.

Atlanta, which lost six straight prior to Saturday's victory, leads New York by 1 1/2 games in the race for the top wild-card spot in the National League.

Pete Alonso hit a two-run homer in the eighth to snap a 20-inning scoreless streak for the Mets, who lost back-to-back games for the first time since July 14 and 19, when they dropped the final game before the All-Star Break against the Colorado Rockies and the second-half opener against the Miami Marlins.

Alonso and Tyrone Taylor had two hits apiece.

Dylan Lee (3-2) earned the win with two innings of three-hit ball in relief of starter Reynaldo Lopez, who departed after three innings due to right forearm tightness. Lopez gave up three hits and one walk with two strikeouts but held the Mets hitless in nine plate appearances with runners on.

Mets starter David Peterson (5-1) took the loss after allowing four runs on five hits and three walks while striking out seven over five innings.

Peterson retired nine of the first 10 batters before the Braves forced him to throw 40 pitches during a four-run fourth. Riley walked and Marcell Ozuna singled before Olson homered into the second deck in right field. Travis d'Arnaud walked, took second on a wild pitch, went to third on a one-out single by Nacho Alvarez Jr. and scored on another wild pitch.

Ryne Stanek made his Mets debut in the seventh and gave up Arcia's leadoff homer and Riley's one-out, two-run blast. Laureano homered with one out in the eighth.