Series Preview: Mets Return Home To Take On Braves

The New York Mets (36-29, first place in the National League’s eastern division) return home for four games with manager Brian Snitker‘s Atlanta Braves (33-36, tied for third place in the National League’s eastern division). The series will feature a doubleheader on Monday, June 21, at Citi Field beginning at 5:10 p.m.

The Mets are coming from a four-game series in Washington, D.C. in which they dropped three of four to the recently resurgent Nationals. The Mets have been experiencing a bit of an offensive brown-out, having been shut out in consecutive games on June 17 and 18, then scoring a total of nine runs over their subsequent three games. The Mets should have Jeff McNeil back from the injured list on Monday, along with Michael Conforto and Brandon Nimmo back a few days to a week later to provide some offensive reinforcements.

The Braves took three of four from the Cardinals in Atlanta in their most recent series, including splitting a doubleheader on Sunday. The reigning division champions have played below expectations thus far in 2021. The Mets won two of three games at Truist Park in Atlanta in the middle of May, then won the only game played against the Braves in a rain-shortened one-game encounter at Citi Field on Memorial Day weekend.

The weather looks fair but quite warm for Monday’s doubleheader. There are showers and thunderstorms in the forecast for Tuesday, which could impact the game that night. Great weather is expected for the series finale on Wednesday.

Let’s have a look at the projected pitching matchups for the series in New York.

Monday, June 21 Game 1, TBD ATL vs (possibly) RHP Jacob deGrom (6-2) NYM, 5:10 pm

DeGrom in 2021: GS: 11, ERA: 0.54, IP: 67, H: 26, ER: 4, HR: 3, BB: 8, SO: 111, WHIP: 0.51

DeGrom is projected to make the start after leaving his last outing on June 16 having pitched three innings (striking out eight of nine batters). DeGrom had soreness in his right shoulder, which marked his third physical ailment of the season. The ace had a stint on the injured list in May with soreness in his left side, then experienced flexor tendonitis in his pitching elbow after his start on June 11. He made his June 16 start on his regular turn, but then the shoulder soreness, which he said came from a swing while at-bat, ended his night early.

The Mets are in a stretch of three doubleheaders in a week and just placed Joey Lucchesi on the injured list, so they are very short on pitching. The hope is deGrom isn’t rushing back to fill a rotation spot without allowing ample time for his various ailments to fully resolve themselves. On Sunday, deGrom said that barring an overnight setback, he will make the start on Monday. Time will tell if this happens and if it is a wise decision.

The game can be seen locally on SNY and heard locally on WCBS radio 880 am.

Monday, June 21 Game 2, Undecided ATL vs Undecided NYM, start time to be determined

The Mets recently recalled RHP Jerad Eickhoff from Syracuse, who is a candidate to make the start. Eickhoff holds a 21-30 record and a 4.15 ERA in the major leagues over five seasons with the Phillies. The 30-year-old from Evansville, IN was 5-1 at Triple-A Syracuse this season, with a 5.32 ERA. Alternatively, the Mets could try a bullpen game, though they may try to conserve bullpen innings due to their heavy schedule.

The game can be seen locally on SNY and heard locally on WCBS radio 880 am.

Tuesday, June 22, RHP Charlie Morton (6-3) vs RHP Marcus Stroman (6-5), 7:10 pm

Morton in 2021: GS: 14, ERA: 4.03, IP: 73.2, H: 63, ER: 33, HR: 7, BB: 26, SO: 82, WHIP: 1.21

Stroman in 2021: GS: 14, ERA: 2.35, IP: 84.1, H: 69, ER: 22, HR: 9, BB: 19, SO: 75, WHIP: 1.04

Morton faced the Mets on May 19 in Atlanta, ending up with a no-decision after tossing six innings and allowing one earned run on two hits in a Braves victory. The native of New Jersey (who grew up in Connecticut) is in his 14th season and has a career record of 99-92 with a career ERA of 4.08.

Stroman has been very good for the Mets this season, pitching in some hard luck, particularly in his last start against the Cubs on June 17. He went seven innings and allowed just two runs, taking the loss as the Mets were shut out. Prior to that start, Stroman beat the Padres twice in six days.

The game can be seen locally on SNY and heard locally on WCBS radio 880 am.

Wednesday, June 23, LHP Max Fried (4-4) ATL vs LHP David Peterson (2-5) NYM, 7:10 pm

Fried in 2021: GS: 11, ERA: 4.21, IP: 57.2, H: 57, ER: 27, HR: 6, BB: 20, SO: 55 WHIP: 1.34

Peterson in 2021: GS: 13, ERA: 5.31, IP: 57.2, H: 76, ER: 34, HR: 9, BB: 26, SO: 62, WHIP: 1.37

Fried faced the Mets on May 17, taking the loss despite pitching six innings and allowing one earned run. The native of Santa Monica, CA is in his fifth major league season, with a career record of 30-15 with a 3.64 ERA. His best season was 2019 when he went 17-6 with a 4.02 ERA.

Peterson has been much better in his last two starts, getting the win on June 14 against the Cubs with six shutout innings. He followed that on June 19 in Washington with 4 2/3 innings pitched and one run allowed on two hits. The Denver, CO native has been using all four of his pitches effectively, and the Mets will look for him to continue doing so in a game against a division rival.

The game can be seen locally on SNY and heard locally on WCBS radio 880 am.

Series Notes for Mets

Mets by the numbers, with MLB rankings through games of June 19:

BA .231 (20th)

HR 65 (28th)

SLG .375 (25th)

OPS .686 (22nd)

Team ERA 3.11 (1st)

Starters’ ERA 2.64 (1st)

Relievers’ ERA 3.78 (12th)

Mets OPS leaders (among players who are active) are Pete Alonso (.778), Jonathan Villar (.729), Kevin Pillar (.687), Dominic Smith (.685), James McCann (.685), Francisco Lindor (.681)

Additional notable Mets on the injured list:

Tommy Hunter (60-day), Johneshwy Fargas, J.D. Davis

Series Notes for Braves

Braves by the numbers, with MLB rankings through games of June 19:

BA .239 (14th)

HR 98 (4th)

SLG .433 (5th)

OPS .755 (5th)

Team ERA 4.42 (19th)

Starters’ ERA 4.11 (15th)

Relievers’ ERA 4.88(25th)

Braves OPS leaders (among players who are active) are Ronald Acuna Jr./strong>. (1.008), Austin Riley (.860), Guillermo Heredia (.836), Freddie Freeman (.834)

Notable Braves on the injured list: Marcell Ozuna, Travis d’Arnaud

The Mets have to be disappointed with the series loss in Washington, though they maintain a four-game lead in the division (six in the loss column) over the second-place Phillies. After the series with the Braves, New York will play four games against the Phillies at Citi Field, including a doubleheader on Friday, June 25. After that, the Mets go to Atlanta for four games before heading to the Bronx for three against the Yankees. The schedule does not get easier.

The Mets have withstood the many challenges they have faced thus far, most of which coming from injuries. They will now have to overcome a heavy schedule against contending teams, facing those teams with a somewhat depleted starting rotation.

No one said it was going to be easy.