New York @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 17, 2013 ) NY Mets 1, Atlanta 2

Thanks to a rainy weekend in early May, the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves will see a lot of each other this week. The Mets and Braves play a day-night doubleheader Tuesday in Atlanta, part of a five-game series squeezed into four days, hours after Monday’s series opener was delayed nearly four hours by rain. The wait was worth it for Atlanta, which rallied to win on Freddie Freeman’s ninth-inning homer 2-1.

New York’s pitching future will be on full display in the twin bill, with emerging ace Matt Harvey starting the opener and top prospect Zach Wheeler making his major-league debut in the nightcap. The Mets are underway on their four-city, 11-game road trip which concludes with a makeup game at Colorado on June 27. Atlanta gives rookie Alex Wood his first major-league start in the opener and will send Paul Maholm to the mound for the second game.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), Fox Sports South (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Matt Harvey (5-1, 2.04 ERA) vs. Atlanta LH Alex Wood (0-0, 3.52)

Harvey has been sensational during a difficult season for New York, ranking second in the National League in ERA and third in strikeouts with 102. Opponents are hitting .197 against the right-hander, who has allowed one earned run in three of his past four starts. Harvey is 0-1 with a 2.84 ERA in three June starts, losing to St. Louis on Thursday despite giving up one run on five hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings.

The Braves intended on Brandon Beachy making his return to the majors after Tommy John elbow surgery last June 22, but right elbow inflammation means Wood gets the nod. Wood, who 14 months ago was pitching at the University of Georgia, has made six relief appearances in the majors. He made 10 starts for Double-A Mississippi before his promotion, going 4-2 with a 1.26 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Braves have beaten New York in 16 of the past 24 meetings, dating back to the start of 2012.

2. Both teams have made a habit of rallying for dramatic victories. The Mets and Braves have five victories apiece when trailing entering the ninth inning, tied for the most in the majors.

3. Atlanta is 28-5 when scoring first this season.

PREDICTION: Mets 4, Braves 1