<img alt="Atlanta Braves v San Diego Padres" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CyF1F0tfyLZyU45p5sc7ri_AcHI=/0x0:3252x2168/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73482205/2161439004.0.jpg">
Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images
Chris Sale makes his first start since the All-Star break as the Braves take on the Mets When the Atlanta Braves last played the New York Mets in early May, the thought that the two teams would be playing meaningful games in July seemed far fetched. The Braves of course were expected to cruise into the postseason while the Mets seemed to be destined to be sellers at the trade deadline.
It has been quite a turn of events though. The Braves have battled multiple injuries to key players while also dealing with an underachieving offense. Atlanta is 22-22 since June 1. After going 9-19 in May, the Mets are 28-15 since the start of June. Fast forward to the current, and the Braves come in having lost four straight and seven of ten overall. Meanwhile the Mets have won three straight and seven of ten. The result is a tightening Wild Card race in the final few days before the Trade Deadline.
Atlanta will enter play Thursday with a 2.0 game edge over the Mets for the top Wild Card spot and a 2.5 game advantage over the Cardinals and Padres. So, this is clearly a big series for two teams that appear to be going in opposite directions.
The Braves will send Chris Sale to the mound for Thursday’s series opener. Sale was originally scheduled to start the second game of the Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Reds before it was postponed. Sale has been Atlanta’s most dependable and reliable starter to date. He allowed one run and tied a season-low with four strikeouts over five innings in his last start against the Padres on July 14. Sale has allowed two runs or less and has logged at least five innings in seven straight starts.
The Mets will counter with right-hander Luis Severino who will make his 20th start of the season. Severino bet on himself by taking a one-year deal with New York in hopes of getting healthy and rebuilding his value before hitting the open market again. He’s pitched well so far logging a 3.58 ERA and a 4.24 FIP in 115 2⁄3 innings. He tossed six shutout innings and struck out seven in his last start against Miami. Severino faced the Braves back on May 12 and allowed two runs over five innings to go along with three walks and four strikeouts.
The Braves reinstated Austin Riley from the paternity list Thursday which is good news for their beleaguered offense. After getting off to a slow start, Riley has rebounded posting a 153 wRC+ in June and a 145 wRC+ in July. For his career, he is hitting .293/.364/.548 with 18 home runs in 72 career games against the Mets. Eleven of those homers have come in 38 games at Citi Field.
First pitch for Thursday’s game is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET and can be seen on Bally Sports Southeast.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Thursday, July 25, 7:10 p.m. ET
Location: Citi Field, Flushing, New York
TV: Bally Sports Southeast
Streaming: MLB.tv
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan
<img alt="Atlanta Braves v San Diego Padres" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CyF1F0tfyLZyU45p5sc7ri_AcHI=/0x0:3252x2168/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73482205/2161439004.0.jpg">
Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images
Chris Sale makes his first start since the All-Star break as the Braves take on the Mets When the Atlanta Braves last played the New York Mets in early May, the thought that the two teams would be playing meaningful games in July seemed far fetched. The Braves of course were expected to cruise into the postseason while the Mets seemed to be destined to be sellers at the trade deadline.
It has been quite a turn of events though. The Braves have battled multiple injuries to key players while also dealing with an underachieving offense. Atlanta is 22-22 since June 1. After going 9-19 in May, the Mets are 28-15 since the start of June. Fast forward to the current, and the Braves come in having lost four straight and seven of ten overall. Meanwhile the Mets have won three straight and seven of ten. The result is a tightening Wild Card race in the final few days before the Trade Deadline.
Atlanta will enter play Thursday with a 2.0 game edge over the Mets for the top Wild Card spot and a 2.5 game advantage over the Cardinals and Padres. So, this is clearly a big series for two teams that appear to be going in opposite directions.
The Braves will send Chris Sale to the mound for Thursday’s series opener. Sale was originally scheduled to start the second game of the Wednesday’s doubleheader against the Reds before it was postponed. Sale has been Atlanta’s most dependable and reliable starter to date. He allowed one run and tied a season-low with four strikeouts over five innings in his last start against the Padres on July 14. Sale has allowed two runs or less and has logged at least five innings in seven straight starts.
The Mets will counter with right-hander Luis Severino who will make his 20th start of the season. Severino bet on himself by taking a one-year deal with New York in hopes of getting healthy and rebuilding his value before hitting the open market again. He’s pitched well so far logging a 3.58 ERA and a 4.24 FIP in 115 2⁄3 innings. He tossed six shutout innings and struck out seven in his last start against Miami. Severino faced the Braves back on May 12 and allowed two runs over five innings to go along with three walks and four strikeouts.
The Braves reinstated Austin Riley from the paternity list Thursday which is good news for their beleaguered offense. After getting off to a slow start, Riley has rebounded posting a 153 wRC+ in June and a 145 wRC+ in July. For his career, he is hitting .293/.364/.548 with 18 home runs in 72 career games against the Mets. Eleven of those homers have come in 38 games at Citi Field.
First pitch for Thursday’s game is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET and can be seen on Bally Sports Southeast.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Thursday, July 25, 7:10 p.m. ET
Location: Citi Field, Flushing, New York
TV: Bally Sports Southeast
Streaming: MLB.tv
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan
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