Sunday, April 24, 2016 • 1:35 p.m.
Turner Field • Atlanta, GA
RHP Jacob deGrom (1-0, 1.50) vs. RHP Aaron Blair (MLB debut)
PIX11 • WOR 710 AM • ESPN 1050 AM

For the New York Mets, right-hander Jacob deGrom rejoins the rotation on Sunday and will oppose Atlanta Braves right-hander Aaron Blair in the top prospect’s major league debut. The Mets look to complete the sweep in Atlanta before heading home to Queens to take on the Reds.

Last night, Steven Matz tossed 6.1 innings allowing 1 ER while striking out 8. Matz struck out five of the first nine Braves he faced, and allowed runs in the third and seventh innings. The Mets scored runs early and even though they left a bunch of people on the base paths, they still scored eight runs, thanks in part to back to back solo shots by Neil Walker and Asdrubal Cabrera.

New York Mets (9-7)

Curtis Granderson, RF
Asdrubal Cabrera, SS
Michael Conforto, LF
Lucas Duda, 1B
Neil Walker, 2B
Wilmer Flores, 3B
Kevin Plawecki, C
Juan Lagares, CF
Jacob deGrom, RHP

Atlanta Braves (4-13)

Nick Markakis, RF
Daniel Castro, SS
Freddie Freeman, 1B
Adonis Garcia, 3B
A.J. Pierzynski, C
Kelly Johnson, 2B
Jace Peterson, LF
Mallex Smith, CF
Aaron Blair, RHP

Jacob deGrom finally returns to the mound today. He picked up a win in his first start. tossing 6.0 innings and allowing just 5 hits, one earned run, no walks and striking out six. Then his lat went tight and he also celebrated the birth of his first child with his wife Stacey. His son Jaxon is doing just fine now after some scary complications.

DeGrom faced the Braves twice last year going 0-1 while recording a 1.88 ERA over 14.1 innings. He allowed nine hits, two walks and three earned runs while striking out 12 batters. The Braves have the following numbers against deGrom:

Freeman 2-10, HR
K Johnson 0-7, 3 K
Peterson 2-6, 2B
Markakis 1-6
Pierzynski 0-6

The Braves are calling up Aaron Blair to make his major league debut today against the Mets. In 2015, he was the 40th ranked prospect by Baseball America (#60 this year), #81 for MLB.com (#54 this year) and #43 by Baseball Prospectus. He was selected by the Diamondbacks in the 1st round of the 2013 draft, and was part of the haul in the Shelby Miller trade. Aaron Blair has been tearing it up in AAA Gwinnett this year posting a 1.42 ERA over 19.0 innings. He tossed seven no-hit innings in his last start.