Atlanta @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 26, 2018 ) Atlanta 0, NY Mets 3

The combination of injuries and poor performance has resulted in a lost season for Dominic Smith, but as the New York Mets host the Atlanta Braves for the final time in 2018 on Thursday, their first baseman looks to build off an encouraging finish. Smith has at least one hit in four of his past five games, going 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs Wednesday as New York gave Jacob deGrom a victory in his final start, a 3-0 triumph that evened the series at one game apiece.

As bad as the Mets season has been – New York is 63-83 since starting the year 11-1 – deGrom has been just as good despite winning only his 10th game Wednesday as New York struggled all season to provide him run support. The Braves pitched well in seeing their six-game winning streak snapped, but finished with a season low-tying two hits. Atlanta, the National League East champions, began Wednesday 1 ½ games ahead of the Dodgers for the second seed in the NL playoffs and home-field advantage in the NL Division Series, starting Oct. 4. Left fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. stole his 16th base and collected one of the Braves hits Wednesday, and has at least one hit in six of his past nine games.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Julio Teheran (9-8, 4.03 ERA) vs. Mets LH Jason Vargas (6-9, 6.25)

Teheran has one final shot to show the Braves he belongs in the playoff rotation, after an outstanding start Friday against Philadelphia in which a misplayed ball in the outfield resulted in three earned runs. Teheran gave up four runs in all against the Phillies on five hits in 6 1/3 innings, and since July 30 the 27-year-old is 2-1 with a 3.32 ERA and a .177 opponents batting average. Teheran is 1-1 in four starts against the Mets this season with a 1.69 ERA.

The Mets had high hopes for Vargas, who led the majors with 18 wins while making the AL All-Star team in 2017 with Kansas City, but he enters his 20th start of the season with a career-worst ERA. The 35-year-old has pitched better lately, posting a 3.79 ERA while going 4-2 in his past eight starts, and has allowed fewer than three earned runs in six of his past seven outings. Vargas is 1-2 with a 6.14 ERA in three starts against Atlanta this season, giving up 19 hits in 14 2/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta SS Dansby Swanson (partially torn ligament in left hand) will miss the final four games of the regular season, but the Braves hope he can return next week for the NLDS.

2. New York LF Michael Conforto recorded a homer and a double Wednesday, and has 14 homers and 43 RBIs since Aug. 1.

3. Mets RF Brandon Nimmo drew two walks Wednesday, and has walked eight times in the past three games while drawing at least one free pass in 12 of his past 13 games.

PREDICTION: Braves 6, Mets 3