New York @ Atlanta preview
Turner Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 11, 2010 ) Atlanta 0, NY Mets 3
A make-or-break week in the NL East begins on Monday at Turner Field, where the first-place Atlanta Braves take on the fading New York Mets.
The Braves held a seven-game lead in the NL East on July 22, but they have lost three consecutive series after dropping only one of their previous 21. They wrapped up a 3-6 road trip with a 2-1 loss Sunday at the Cincinnati Reds, allowing the Philadelphia Phillies to climb within 2.5 games of the division lead.
Now Atlanta returns for a seven-game stand at Turner Field, where it boasts a major-league best 34-13 record. The Braves haven't lost a series at home since April 20-22.
The Braves hope to get a jump on rebuilding their lead when they send Tim Hudson to the mound on Monday. Over his last two starts, Hudson has allowed one run and 11 hits in 14 2/3 innings, while striking out 11 and walking two.
Hudson (11-5, 2.40 ERA) has allowed one run or less in four of his last six starts - including one on July 10 at Citi Field, where he shut out the Mets for seven innings in a 4-0 win.
The 35-year-old right-hander is 11-5 with a 3.54 ERA in 17 career starts against the Mets. Carlos Beltran is 23-for-62 (.371) with four homers and 14 RBIs against Hudson.
The Mets are fading fast, having gone 5-12 since the All-Star break to slip 6 1/2 games behind the Braves and four back of the second-place Phillies. But they will have ample opportunity to make up some of that ground this week with three-game sets in Atlanta and Philadelphia.
They begin that crucial stretch with ace Johan Santana on the mound against a team he has pitched exceptionally well against over the years.
Although his 2-5 record doesn't show it, Santana has been dominant in 10 career starts against Atlanta, compiling a 2.01 ERA.
He already has turned in two solid starts against the Braves this year. Santana took a no-decision despite limiting Atlanta to two runs over seven innings in a 3-2 loss on May 18 at Turner Field. In addition, he tossed seven scoreless innings to beat the Braves 3-0 on July 11 at Citi Field.
Santana (8-5, 3.11 ERA) hopes his August starts the way his July began. In his first five starts last month, the two-time Cy Young Award winner was 3-0 with a 0.71 ERA, but things unraveled in his last start of the month. He allowed seven runs on 13 hits over 5 2/3 innings in Wednesday's 8-7 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, though he didn't factor in the decision.
The Mets have won five of eight meetings this year, and now they catch the Braves at less than full strength.
Leadoff man and second baseman Martin Prado will miss at least a week and could end up on the disabled list after suffering a fractured right pinky Friday in Cincinnati. Prado leads the National League with 138 hits, though he has hit only .179 in eight games against New York this year.
New York also is dealing with a key injury, though, with outfielder Jason Bay on the disabled list after suffering a concussion July 23. Bay has hit .316 with two RBIs in seven games against the Braves this season.