Atlanta @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 25, 2019 ) Atlanta 2, NY Mets 1

The Atlanta Braves enter Friday’s opener of a three-game series at the New York Mets focused on getting their lineup in order for the National League Division Series, but will be without a key piece for the final three games of the season. Outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. will sit out the Mets series with a left groin strain that he suffered in Tuesday’s loss at Kansas City, and while the injury is no considered serious, it does end the 21-year-old’s quest for a 40-40 series three steals shy.

Second baseman Ozzie Albies looks ready for the postseason as he enters the final series with hits in 13 of his past 14 games, batting .411 with a 1.123 OPS in that span with four doubles, three homers, 11 RBIs and 10 runs scored. Albies is tied with Arizona’s Ketel Marte (who is out for the season) for most hits in the NL with 187, and first baseman Freddie Freeman – who missed the Kansas City series with a bone spur in his right elbow, but is expected to return Friday – ranks third in the majors with 121 RBIs. The Mets were eliminated from playoff contention on Wednesday but have clinched their first winning season since 2016, and likely NL Rookie of the Year Pete Alonso enters the final three games of the season with a big-league best 51 homers, one off Aaron Judge’s rookie record of 52 set in 2017. Outfielder Michael Conforto walked in Thursday’s 4-2 loss to Miami, extending his on-base streak to nine games.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Dallas Keuchel (8-7, 3.59 ERA) vs. Mets RH Marcus Stroman (9-13, 3.23)

Keuchel has lost his past two starts but overall has provided Atlanta with needed veteran presence, giving up two earned runs or fewer in eight of his past nine starts. The 31-year-old gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts in six innings Sunday against San Francisco, five days after allowing five runs on eight hits in five innings in a loss to Philadelphia. Keuchel has faced the Mets twice since joining the Braves in late June, going 1-0 with no runs allowed on nine hits with 14 strikeouts in 13 innings.

Stroman has pitched well since the Mets acquired him from Toronto at the trade deadline, going 3-2 with a 3.86 ERA as New York is 7-3 in his 10 starts. The 28-year-old has given up two earned runs or fewer four times in five September starts, holding Cincinnati to two runs on three hits in 4 2/3 innings in a no-decision Sunday after shutting out Colorado on four hits with seven strikeouts across seven innings on Sept. 17. Stroman earned his first victory with the Mets against the Braves on Aug. 15 in Atlanta, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits in 5 1/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mets 1B Dominic Smith, out since late July with a stress fracture in his left foot, was activated from the injured list Thursday.

2. Braves 3B Josh Donaldson, who brought an 0-for-18 streak into the two-game series at Kansas City, went 6-for-10 with three doubles and four RBIs in the two games against the Royals.

3. Atlanta leads the season series 11-5, having outscored the Mets 92-75.

PREDICTION: Mets 4, Braves 2