MMO Game Thread: Braves vs Mets, 7:10 PM

The New York Mets are back at Citi Field on Friday night to begin a 10-game homestand against the Atlanta Braves.

Jon Niese (0-1, 3.46) will make his third start of the season for New York and will be opposed by Aaron Harang (2-1, 0.96) for Atlanta.

Starting Lineup

Eric Young, Jr. – LF
Daniel Murphy – 2B
David Wright – 3B
Curtis Granderson – RF
Chris Young – CF
Lucas Duda – 1B
Travis d’Arnaud – C
Ruben Tejada – SS
Jon Niese – LHP

Did You Know…

Mets starting pitchers have a 15.1 scoreless innings streak dating back to Monday and that they have eight quality starts already this season.

The Mets have had double-digit hits in five of their last six games and they are now sixth in the National League with 68 runs scored. They have outscored Arizona 21-5 in their just completed series. Lets keep it going!

David Wright is batting .458 (11-for-24) with a home run, four doubles and seven RBIs in his career against Harang.

Gonzalez Germen has retired 31 of last 34 batters he faced for a career best 9.1 scoreless innings pitched. His 0.87 ERA currently ranks third among all NL relievers.

Daniel Murphy has swiped 24 consecutive bases without getting caught dating back to 2013. The longest current streak in the majors.

Eric Young, Jr. hit .333 (12-36) with 12 runs scored, three RBI, nine stolen bases with a .442 on-base percentage during the Mets nine-game road trip.

Game Preview

The Mets continue their stretch of teams with “A” as a logo tonight as they return home to play the Braves. After a tough Sunday against the Angels, the Mets bounced back strong sweeping the Diamondbacks in Arizona, negating the series where the Mets were swept by the Nationals. Anyway the Mets draw Atlanta again as they face off against Aaron Harang behind Jon Niese.

Niese is 0-1 in his two starts so far this season with a 3.46 ERA over 13.0 innings allowing 12 hits, 5 ER, 2 BB and 9 strikeouts. Jon did not face Braves the first time around this season and last year was forgettable against them as he allowed 11 ER over 14.1 innings while walking 9 and striking out 17. When you break the numbers down, this is due to a start where he allowed 7 ER over 4.0 innings and then 3 ER over 3.1 innings. He had one fantastic start, 7.0 innings with 1 ER. The Braves have the following numbers against the Braves:

Uggla 9-30, 3 2B, 3B
Freeman 9-27, 2 2B, 2 HR
Heyward 9-24, 2 2B, 2 HR
Upton 8-15, 2B
Johnson 3-13, 2B
Simmons 4-10, 2B
Schafer 0-9

Harang has been the surprise of 2014. The former Met has had a great start to the year in his first three starts logging 18.2 innings with a 2-1 record with a 0.96 ERA. He has allowed only 9 hits this year and 2 ER. His one loss this came against the Mets where he allowed one earned run over 6.0 innings, walking 4 and striking out 9. The Mets have the following numbers against Aaron: