Atlanta @ New York preview
Citi Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 25, 2013 ) Atlanta 4, NY Mets 7
The Atlanta Braves have won an impressive 19-of-22 contests to bolster their lead to an astounding 16 games in the National League East. While the New York Mets aren't in position to challenge for the division title, they have split the first 14 contests between the rivals. The teams continue their battle on Tuesday as they open an abbreviated two-game set in New York.
Atlanta, which has won six in a row on the road, continued to lengthen the distance between itself and second-place Washington by taking two of three from the Nationals over the weekend. After finishing an 11-game, four-city road trip with a 6-1 triumph over Minnesota on Monday, New York returns home to open a nine-game stand. Marlon Byrd matched his career high by belting his 20th homer against the Twins.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Atlanta), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Brandon Beachy (2-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. Mets RH Zack Wheeler (5-2, 3.43)
Beachy is receiving the start after Kris Medlen tossed 47 pitches over three innings of relief in Saturday's 15-inning loss to Washington. The 26-year-old recorded his third straight quality start in his fourth outing since returning from Tommy John surgery. Beachy permitted two runs on six hits in as many innings to secure the win in a 6-3 triumph over Philadelphia.
Wheeler settled for a no-decision on Thursday despite yielding one run and striking out a career-high 12 batters against San Diego. The 23-year-old native of Georgia has defeated Atlanta twice in as many starts. Wheeler scattered four hits over six scoreless innings in his season debut before allowing four runs in six frames in a 7-4 triumph on July 25.
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta INF Chris Johnson is riding a seven-game hitting streak but is just 1-for-5 versus Wheeler.
2. New York elected to keep promising rookie Travis d'Arnaud on the roster as fellow C John Buck returns from paternity leave. Instead, the team optioned C Anthony Recker to Triple-A Las Vegas.
3. Braves OF B.J. Upton is hitless in his last 19 at-bats.
PREDICTION: Braves 2, Mets 1