The Atlanta Braves return to SunTrust Park on Monday where they will open a four-game series against the New York Mets starting with a Memorial Day doubleheader. Atlanta went 2-4 on their six-game road trip but return home in first place where they lead the Philadelphia Phillies by a half game entering play on Monday.
The Braves are awaiting word on the status of Ronald Acuña Jr. who left Sunday’s win over the Red Sox in the seventh inning after suffering a hyperextended knee. Acuña was able to get to his feet and walk off the field under his own power albeit with a noticeable limp.
New York comes into Monday’s game 25-24 and four games back in the NL East standings. The Mets dropped 3-of-4 in Milwaukee over the weekend and are 5-5 in their last 10 games.
The Mets are also dealing with their own injury issues. Todd Frazier, Yoenis Cespedes and Juan Lagares are all on the 10-day disabled list. Frazier is slated to begin a rehab assignment this week. Cespedes shouldn’t be too far behind him but Lagares is slated to miss the rest of the season after surgery on his foot. In addition, Wilmer Flores exited Sunday’s game early due to a sore back and is headed back to New York for further evaluation.
This series also marks the return of Jose Bautista to Atlanta although he will be wearing a different uniform. The Braves released Bautista last weekend after just 12 games in which he hit just .143/.250/.343 but he didn’t have to wait long to find a new home. So far he is 2-for-5 at the plate in four games played for New York.
Atlanta have won 5-of-6 in the season series including a three-game sweep at Citi Field earlier this month.
Monday, May 28, 1:10 p.m. ET (Fox Sports Southeast)
Jacob deGrom - RHP (2018: 10 GS, 4-0 W-L, 33.3 K%, 6.9 BB%, 1.54 ERA, 1.89 FIP, 2.55 xFIP)
Jacob deGrom will take the ball for the Mets in Game 1 and will be looking to continue what has been a dominant stretch. DeGrom has allowed just one earned run over his last 33 1/3 innings. He currently holds a 1.54 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 58 1/3 innings pitched. He faced the Braves back on May 2 and allowed two hits and struck out six over four shutout innings before exiting after hyperextending his pitching elbow during an at bat.
Max Fried - LHP (2018: 4 G, 0-2 W-L, 26.9 K%, 11.5 BB%, 6.00 ERA, 8.77 FIP, 4.16 xFIP)
The Braves will call up Max Fried to make his first start of the season in Game 1. Fried has made four relief appearances for the Braves this season allowing five hits and four runs over six innings.
Monday, May 28, 7:10 p.m. ET (Fox Sports Southeast)
TBA
New York hasn’t named a starter for Game 2 as of yet but Mickey Calloway is toying with the idea of starting either Seth Lugo or Robert Gsellman for a short stint before giving way to either Corey Oswalt or Chris Flexen.
Brandon McCarthy - RHP (2018: 10 GS, 5-2 W-L, 18.8 K%, 8.3 BB%, 4.67 ERA, 4.29 FIP, 3.76 xFIP)
After a pair of rough outings, Brandon McCarthy seems to have gotten himself back on track. McCarthy surrendered 23 hits and 14 runs in just 8 1/3 innings over his first two May starts. In his next two he has given up just nine hits and two earned runs in 11 2/3 innings.
McCarthy has faced the Mets three times in his career allowing five runs over 18 2/3 innings.
Tuesday, May 29, 7:35 p.m. ET (Fox Sports Southeast)
Steven Matz - LHP (2018: 9 GS, 2-3 W-L, 21.4 K%, 10.4 BB%, 3.80 ERA, 5.63 FIP, 4.52 xFIP)
Lefty Steven Matz will get the call for the Mets on Tuesday. Matz allowed four hits and struck out three over six shut out innings in a win over the Brewers last time out. He is 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA through four May starts.
TBA
Atlanta has yet to announce a starter for Tuesday’s game but Anibal Sanchez appears to be the early favorite. Sanchez is currently on a rehab assignment at Gwinnett for a strained hamstring that landed him on the disabled list back in April.
Wednesday, May 30, 7:35 p.m. ET (Fox Sports Southeast)
Noah Syndergaard - RHP (2018: 11 GS, 4-1 W-L, 28.3 K%, 4.8 BB%, 3.06 ERA, 2.55 FIP, 2.74 xFIP)
Noah Syndergaard starts the series finale for the Mets on Wednesday. Syndergaard has faced the Braves twice this season allowing a combined 17 hits and six runs 12 innings. He allowed six hits and three runs over six innings in his last start against Milwaukee.
Julio Teheran - RHP (2018: 11 GS, 4-2 W-L, 20.6 K%, 10.9 BB%, 4.20 ERA, 5.29 FIP, 4.90 xFIP)
Julio Teheran will be searching for some consistency on Wednesday when he faces a Mets team that he has had some success against. Teheran has posted a 1.55 ERA over his last 12 starts against New York. However, he has struggled at home where his ERA balloons to 5.79 in 22 career starts at SunTrust Park.