The New York Mets can’t win the season series against the Atlanta Braves, but they will nonetheless go for a three-game road series sweep on Sunday when the National League East rivals meet for the last time this year.
The Mets hit six home runs on Saturday and whipped the Braves 9-2. Atlanta leads the season series 7-5, but the Mets could keep their momentum going — they’ve won five of their last seven overall — as they make a playoff push.
“They came in here a hot team and they’re swinging the bats really well and they’ve continued to do so,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said of the Mets.
The pitching matchup for Sunday features New York lefty David Peterson (8-5, 3.18 ERA) against Atlanta right-hander Bryce Elder (5-9, 6.29).
Peterson is coming off one of his best starts of the season, an eight-inning gem against Washington on Tuesday that saw him allow only one run on four hits with a season-high 10 strikeouts.
“I just go out there and try to give the team a chance to win, try to be efficient — on the attack, getting ahead early in counts,” he said. “I kind of knew exactly what I didn’t do well and needed to work on. I prioritized that.”
Peterson has faced the Braves twice this season, both times getting a no-decision though Atlanta won both. He gave three runs on five hits over seven innings on June 17 and was rocked for six runs in 3 1/3 innings in an 11-6 loss on Aug. 13. In 13 career appearances (12 starts) against the Braves, Peterson is 3-5 with a 5.75 ERA in 61 innings.
Elder keeps going to the post for the Braves and will make his team-high 22nd start. His inconsistency has been maddening at time; in his most recent start on Tuesday, he allowed eight runs in 4 2/3 innings against the Chicago White Sox after holding the Mets to three runs over seven innings in his previous turn.
Elder has made five career appearances — four starts — against the Mets, going 3-0 with a 4.15 ERA in 26 innings.
The Mets’ offense has been paced by Francisco Lindor, who was 1-for-4 on Saturday and extended his hitting streak to 11 games. During the streak, Lindor is batting .489 (23-for-47) with 12 runs, five doubles, four homers, eight RBIs, six walks and five steals.
Brett Baty had a walk on Saturday and has reached base in 11 consecutive games.
Jeff McNeil returned from a sore shoulder and hit a pair of home runs on Saturday, but outfielder Brandon Nimmo remained out with a stiff neck.
Atlanta rookie Nacho Alvarez Jr. had a double on Saturday and has a seven-game hitting streak. With Austin Riley out for the rest of the season, Alvarez is expected to be the regular starting third baseman.
Snitker said newly signed Cal Quantrill — the team-record 17th starter used by the Braves this season — was OK after Saturday’s game. Quantrill was removed in mid-at-bat with two outs in the fifth inning when he experienced cramps in both calves.
“He was fine after they worked on him,” Snitker said. “I don’t anticipate him not making his next start. He knows what he’s doing and he’s got stuff. We just didn’t want to take a chance at him pulling a calf because those things take forever to heal.”
–Field Level Media
