MMO Game Thread: Braves vs Mets, 7:10 PM (Braving The Storm!)

The New York Mets will try to shake off a couple of losses against the Yankees as the thy take on the Atlanta Braves tonight for the start of a three-game series at Citi Field.

The Mets will turn to left-hander Jon Niese (8-10, 4.31) to be the stopper while he opposes right-hander Shelby Miller (5-15, 3.00) for the Braves. First pitch is at 7:10 PM.

The Mets have 10 wins this year vs. Atlanta after posting 10 victories last year. This marks the first time the Mets had back-to-back double-digit win seasons vs. Atlanta in their team history. The Mets have won four straight from the Braves.

The Mets are 45-22 vs. the NL East, including 23-9 at home (.719). New York’s .672 winning percentage is the best for any team within its own division this year.

Mets Starting Lineup

Curtis Granderson – RF
Daniel Murphy – 3B
Yoenis Cespedes – CF
Lucas Duda – 1B
Travis d’Arnaud – C
Kelly Johnson- 2B
Michael Conforto – LF
Wilmer Flores – SS
Jonathon Niese – LHP

The Mets had a disappointing night on Sunday. As soon as Harvey was pulled from the game with a 1-0 lead, the bullpen imploded and the Yankees were able to beat the Mets 11-2. (Although, looking at this start coupled with the other, the bullpen was able to bail Harvey out when he allowed 7 ER so let’s just call it a wash). Anyway the Braves come to town tonight.

Jon Niese is 8-10 over 28 games and 167.0 innings with a 4.31 ERA. After a string of poor starts, Niese finally had a good one against the Braves his last time out holding them to 2 ER, 3 runs total, over 6.0 innings. Overall he’s 1-0 over 3 starts and 17.2 innings against the Braves with a 2.04 ERA. The Braves have the following numbers against Jon:

Freeman 11-46, 2 2B, 2 HR
Maybin 8-32, 3 HR
Simmons 10-26, 2 2B
Bourn 8-22, 2B
Swisher 4-13, 2B, HR
Markakis 3-10

The Mets draw one of the best pitchers in the Braves’ rotation: Shelby Miller. He’s 5-15, which is a league leading amount of losses. That being said he’s made 30 starts, including two complete game shutouts with a 3.00 ERA over 186.0 innings. Shelby is in the midst of a rough September where he has allowed 15 runs, 13 earned over 14.0 innings. Against the Mets this year he has allowed 6 ER over 12.1 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against Miller: