This week, all eyes in the baseball world will be on Truist Park, where the Atlanta Braves host the New York Mets for a decisive three-game series. With one postseason spot hanging in the balance, the stakes couldn't be higher for these two teams. Adding to the tension is a potential hurricane bearing down on the region, threatening to bring more chaos to an already tumultuous season.
The Importance of the Series
Both teams find themselves in a high-stakes battle as the National League playoff picture narrows. All other National League teams behind Atlanta have already been eliminated from the wild-card race, reducing the battle to a four-team fight for three coveted postseason spots.
Recalling past encounters, Braves fans remember well the series two years ago when Atlanta swept the Mets in the penultimate series of the regular season, causing New York to lose their commanding first-place position in the NL East. Such history adds another layer of intensity to this week's matchup.
Pitching Matchups
The series kicks off on Tuesday, September 24, at 7:20 p.m. ET with a duel between right-handers Luis Severino of the Mets and Spencer Schwellenbach of the Braves. The following days will feature top-tier left-handed matchups: David Peterson against Chris Sale on Wednesday, and Sean Manaea versus Max Fried on Thursday.
The Mets have strategically adjusted their rotation, bumping Jose Quintana’s start back to Friday using Monday's off-day. This maneuver indicates a sharp focus on optimizing their pitching arsenal for this critical series.
Player Performances and Injuries
On the Mets' side, rookie Luisangel Acuña has been outstanding at shortstop, hitting .409 with a slew of extra-base hits, stepping in seamlessly for the injured Francisco Lindor. Jose Iglesias has also excelled, batting .467 since taking over the leadoff spot and second base duties in the wake of Jeff McNeil’s wrist injury.
Veteran star Lindor remains hopeful about playing again this season, although he has acknowledged that returning pain-free is unlikely.
For the Braves, Marcell Ozuna has been a bright spot, slashing .329/.417/.425 in September. However, the same can't be said for JD Martinez and Mark Vientos, who have struggled this month. Atlanta's lineup has also benefited from the contributions of Ramón Laureano and Whit Merrifield.
Implications of the Series
Even a sweep of the Mets won't instantly clinch a wild-card spot for the Braves, especially if the Arizona Diamondbacks lose their games against the San Francisco Giants. Conversely, if the Mets manage to win two games in this series, their postseason ticket will be practically punched.
Intriguingly, the Braves won't necessarily be eliminated if the Mets win two games. Depending on the outcomes of their and Arizona’s final games, Atlanta could still surpass the Diamondbacks and secure a postseason berth.
Looking Ahead
After this series, the Mets will head to Milwaukee to face the Brewers, who have already clinched the NL Central and are now aiming to secure a Wild Card Series bye. Meanwhile, the Braves will remain at home for a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals, another team embroiled in a tight wild-card race. Game 162 could be a potential win-or-go-home scenario for both the Braves and Royals.
As Sean Murphy succinctly put it, “You knew it a couple weeks ago, right? That series is probably gonna help decide this thing.” With so much on the line, these games promise to deliver gripping, high-stakes baseball drama.