The New York Mets and Atlanta Braves will face off in a significant double-header on Monday at Truist Park, with the second game set to start at 4:10 p.m. ET. This matchup carries considerable weight as both teams are vying for a Wild Card spot in the National League.
New York (88-72 SU, 83-77 RL and 80-75-5 O/U) is projected to start right-hander Luis Severino. The 30-year-old pitcher has a record of 11-7, with a 3.91 ERA and 1.24 WHIP across 31 games (182.0 IP) this season.
Atlanta (88-72 SU, 74-86 RL and 59-95-6 O/U) will likely call on left-hander Chris Sale unless they clinch a postseason berth in game one. Sale, at 35 years old, holds an impressive record of 18-3 with a 3.91 ERA and 1.01 WHIP over 29 appearances (177.2 IP) this year.
Injury Update
The Mets have some concerns as catcher Francisco Alvarez is listed as questionable due to back spasms.
On the Braves’ side, there are currently no new injuries reported.
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Mets One Win Away from Playoff Spot
New York secured a 5-0 victory over Milwaukee on Sunday, putting them just one win away from clinching a Wild Card berth in the National League. Shortstop Francisco Lindor contributed significantly, hitting a home run and driving in two runs, while pitcher David Peterson threw seven scoreless innings. Despite losing the first two games of the series, the Mets have a chance to reach the playoffs by winning at least one game in Monday’s double-header.
The Mets are performing well on the road this season, with a record of 41-37, and they have shown resilience this month, going 15-8. However, they have struggled against the Braves lately, posting a 4-6 record in their last ten matchups, including a three-game losing streak against their division rivals.
Severino is set to pitch for New York in game two. He has a record of 4-5 this season with a 5.00 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 15 road starts (84.2 IP). In his previous outing against Atlanta, he allowed four runs on seven hits with five strikeouts over four innings. This season, he has faced the Braves three times, allowing two runs in two of those matchups. Severino’s career record against them stands at 1-2 with a 4.13 ERA in five appearances.
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Braves Rely on Sale in Game Two
Atlanta’s hopes took a hit on Sunday when they lost to Kansas City 4-2. The Royals jumped ahead early, scoring three runs in the first inning and maintaining their lead throughout the game, denying the Braves a chance to clinch a Wild Card spot. As a result, Atlanta must win at least one game on Monday to secure their postseason position.
The Braves have a solid home record of 45-33 this season and have performed reasonably well in September, posting a 14-9 record. They have also been competitive against NL East rivals, going 27-23 overall.
If Atlanta needs to bring Sale in for game two, they will be relying on a top contender for the NL Cy Young Award. Sale boasts an outstanding 10-0 record with a 2.28 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 14 home starts. In his last game, he allowed two runs on five hits while striking out six batters over five innings against Cincinnati. Earlier this year, he faced New York once, yielding just two runs and two hits while striking out nine in seven innings. Sale has a career record of 1-0 against the Mets with a 2.70 ERA in four appearances.
Best Bets for New York Mets vs. Atlanta Braves
The outcome of game one will likely dictate the strategies for the second game. If the winner of game one secures a playoff spot, they may rest key players, giving the losing team a potential advantage in game two. With Spencer Schwellenbach anticipated to start for Atlanta against Tylor Megill in the first game, there is a strong possibility that Atlanta will come out on top. If that happens, Sale would be rested, making the second game less challenging for New York’s lineup. Severino’s recent form shows promise, as he has limited six of his last eight opponents to three or fewer runs, including four teams to one or none.
Bet on the loser of game one to cover the run line as they take the field as the favorite in game two.
