New York @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2013 ) NY Mets 1, Atlanta 3

There are plenty of question marks surrounding the New York Mets’ projected 2014 starting rotation, but Dillon Gee is not one of them. The right-hander starts Wednesday as New York wraps up a three-game series at Atlanta looking to continue a strong second half. Gee has allowed more than two earned runs just twice in his past nine starts, going 4-2 with a 2.01 ERA in that span.

Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman has moved into the role of Mets’ tormentor since Chipper Jones retired. Freeman went 1-for-4 in the Braves’ 3-1 victory Tuesday, and is hitting .343 with five homers, 16 RBIs and 12 runs scored in 18 games against New York this season. The Braves will skip Julio Teheran’s turn in the rotation in the series finale, sending Kameron Loe to the mound for his first start since the right-hander started 23 games with Texas in 2007.

TV: 12:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), SportSouth (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Dillon Gee (10-9, 3.63 ERA) vs. Braves RH Kameron Loe (0-1, 10.13)

Gee gave up two runs on six hits in 7 2/3 innings Friday to beat the Nationals, finishing August 3-1 with a 2.14 ERA in six starts. The 27-year-old is 0-2 in three starts against Atlanta despite a 3.10 ERA, allowing two hits in seven shutout innings but getting a no-decision July 22. Gee has held opponents to a .227 batting average since the All-Star break, lowering his ERA from 4.32.

Loe allowed three runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings in two relief appearances with Atlanta, both against the Mets. He was sent to Triple-A Gwinnett, where the 31-year-old went 0-2 with a 2.83 ERA in six starts and pitched at least five innings four times. Loe made four appearances with Seattle and seven with the Cubs earlier this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. New York 2B Daniel Murphy won National League Player of the Week honors, hitting .448 with seven RBIs last week.

2. Atlanta RF Jason Heyward, out since Aug. 21 with a fractured jaw, was cleared Tuesday to begin playing catch and hitting off a tee in the hopes of returning before the postseason.

3. New York OF Juan Lagares is hitting .382 during his nine-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Mets 5, Braves 1