Atlanta @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 13, 2018 ) NY Mets 0, Atlanta 2

It has been quite the week for the New York Mets and for all the wrong reasons entering the start of a four-game home series Thursday against the Atlanta Braves. The Mets decided to stand pat at Tuesday’s trade deadline, citing the strength of their starting pitching, only to allow a franchise-record 25 runs to Washington just hours later before losing 5-3 in Wednesday’s series finale, and now outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is slated to undergo season-ending heel surgery Thursday.

It’s been this bizarre for the Mets: infielder Jose Reyes became the first player in major-league history to allow multiple homers as a pitcher in one game (pitching the eighth inning in mop-up duty Tuesday) and then in his team’s next outing hit two homers - finishing 2-for-3 after entering Wednesday's loss as an injury replacement. New York finished with just six hits Wednesday and ranks near the bottom of the National League in hitting at .228 on the season. Atlanta’s series finale Wednesday against Miami was rained out, and the Braves head to New York riding a three-game winning streak during which they have scored 20 runs on 33 hits. First baseman Freddie Freeman, who is among NL leaders in hitting at .316, is batting .413 in 12 games against the Mets this season with 11 RBIs and a 1.081 OPS.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Mike Foltynewicz (7-7, 3.04 ERA) vs. Mets LH Jason Vargas (2-6, 8.36)

Foltynewicz experienced the high of pitching in the All-Star game in July but endured four consecutive rough outings to end the month, surrendering at least six hits in each start while posting a 6.94 ERA with six homers allowed in 23 1/3 innings. The 26-year-old struck out eight against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday but gave up four runs on six hits with three walks in losing his second consecutive outing. Foltynewicz got a no-decision June 12 against the Mets, pitching five scoreless innings with two hits allowed and six strikeouts.

Nobody won more games in the majors last season than Vargas, who captured 18 victories last season with Kansas City before enduring a disastrous 2018. The 35-year-old gave up seven runs on nine hits June 19 against Colorado, then landed on the disabled list with a right calf injury suffered during conditioning sprints. Vargas - who gave up three runs over 4 1/3 innings Friday at Pittsburgh - permitted six runs against the Braves on May 3 but held Atlanta to two hits across five shutout innings May 30 to pick up his last victory.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mets OF Brandon Nimmo has hit a career-high 13 homers this season, but only one in his past 35 games.

2. The Braves announced newly-acquired RHP Kevin Gausman will make his first Atlanta start at some point during the Mets series.

3. Atlanta has dominated the Mets this season, winning 9-of-12 matchups and outscoring New York 67-37.

PREDICTION: Braves 6, Mets 2