Despite public backing of the Mets, sharp money is taking a hard look at the struggling home favorites.
Game Overview
The Atlanta Braves visit the New York Mets to begin a critical three-game series at Citi Field. Despite being 16 games under .500, Atlanta has dominated the season series so far, going 5-2 against New York. The Mets return home in a tailspin, having lost seven straight games and 11 of their last 12, watching their division hopes evaporate as they now cling to the final NL Wild Card spot. Meanwhile, the Braves have shown signs of life, winning 5 of their last 10 including four of five against Miami last week.
Key Matchups & Analysis
- Strider vs. Mets' Slumping Lineup
Spencer Strider (5-9, 4.04 ERA) has struggled this season but brings a strong track record against New York. The Mets' lineup has gone ice-cold, hitting just .208 over their last 10 games while being outscored by 18 runs. - Holmes' Elevated Workload
Clay Holmes (9-6, 3.46 ERA) has been a bright spot for the Mets, but he's being asked to shoulder a heavier load than ever before. The converted reliever has already thrown more innings (122.1) than in any previous season and showed signs of fatigue in recent outings. - Bullpen Imbalance
The Mets' bullpen has been overtaxed during their losing streak, with Tyler Rogers appearing in all three games of their weekend series in Milwaukee. Meanwhile, Atlanta's bullpen has been relatively fresh after some longer starts from their rotation last week. - Run Production Disparity
New York has been dismal offensively, scoring just 4.09 runs per game during their recent slump. The Braves have found a spark in Michael Harris II, who is 13-for-40 with four doubles and three home runs over his last 10 games.