What will probably be maybe a very powerful sequence of the 2024 MLB common season takes place this week at Truist Park. The Atlanta Braves will host the NL East rival New York Mets for 3 video games and there would possibly solely be one postseason spot for these two groups. One will play baseball in October, that may be a certainty, and the opposite’s season may finish with Sport 162 this coming Sunday. And with a possible hurricane bearing down on the area, stakes have by no means been greater.

Listed below are the Nationwide League wild-card standings:

1. San Diego Padres: 90-66 (+3.5 GB)
2. New York Mets: 87-69 (+0.5 GB)
3. Arizona Diamondbacks: 87-70
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4. Atlanta Braves: 85-71 (1.5 GB)

Each NL crew behind Atlanta has been eradicated from the wild-card race. It is a four-team race for 3 spots with the season winding down. This week’s sequence with the Mets is the Braves’ greatest probability — possibly their final probability — to realize significant floor in a brief time period. It is also an opportunity for the Mets to bury Atlanta and successfully finish their season.

“You knew it a pair weeks in the past, proper? That sequence might be gonna assist determine this factor,” Braves catcher Sean Murphy stated over the weekend (through the Atlanta Journal-Structure). “We all know what we’re up in opposition to and we all know what we gotta do.”

Two years in the past, the Mets went to Truist Park for the second-to-last sequence of the common season, bought swept in three video games, and misplaced first place within the NL East. The Braves are hoping for a repeat. It is perhaps the one approach they get a wild-card spot. Listed below are the main points for this week’s Braves vs. Mets sequence in Atlanta. Choose video games may be streamed on fuboTV (attempt without spending a dime). 

Each groups are beginning their three greatest pitchers this week and it is not a coincidence. The Mets used Monday’s off-day to bump Jose Quintana’s begin again from Tuesday to Friday, and moved Severino, Peterson, and Manaea up so they may face the Braves. Sale is the NL Cy Younger favourite and Manaea has performed a wonderful Sale impersonation since copying him and decreasing his arm slot.

The Braves and Mets each had an off-day Monday, so their bullpens will probably be rested — or as rested as they are often this time of yr — when the sequence begins Tuesday. Right here now are 5 issues to know going into this week’s ultra-important sequence at Truist Park.

1. Clinching situations

Let’s get the straightforward stuff out of the best way first: Atlanta can’t clinch a postseason berth throughout this sequence with the Mets. Even when they sweep the Mets and the D-backs lose their video games to the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday and Wednesday (they’re off Thursday), the Braves can’t clinch a wild-card spot this sequence. They’ve to attend till the weekend even in the most effective case state of affairs.

As for the Mets, it is fairly easy. Win two video games this sequence, they usually’re within the postseason. The D-backs will play a task in deciding New York’s precise wild-card seed, and that will not be determined till Sport 162, however take two video games in opposition to the Braves and the Mets are in. The Braves will not essentially be eradicated — they may nonetheless go Arizona — however the Mets are in with two wins.

2. Lindor may return this sequence

Francisco Lindor, New York’s MVP candidate, has not performed since Sept. 15 due to a lingering again situation that’s unhealthy sufficient to require a aspect joint injection into his backbone (ouch) over the weekend. Lindor shouldn’t be in Tuesday’s lineup, although he’s optimistic he’ll play once more this season, even whether it is unlikely he’ll accomplish that pain-free.

In fact, the Mets have performed simply wonderful with out Lindor. They’re 6-1 since Lindor final performed thanks largely to rookie Luisangel Acuña, Ronald’s youthful brother, who stepped in at shortstop. Acuña is 9 for 22 (.409) with two doubles, a triple, and three residence runs since Lindor went down. The Mets bought Acuña from the Texas Rangers in final summer time’s Max Scherzer commerce.

Additionally, veteran gloveman Jose Iglesias has stepped into the leadoff spot since Lindor final performed and is 14 for 30 (.467) with two doubles and a homer in that position. Iglesias took over because the on a regular basis second baseman when an errant pitch broke Jeff McNeil’s wrist two weeks in the past. Now he is subbing in at leadoff, and he is been unbelievable. The 34-year-old is hitting .337/.381/.459 in 2024.

Acuña and Iglesias have been glorious throughout Lindor’s absence, however clearly, the Mets are at their greatest when their MVP candidate is main off and taking part in shortstop. Lindor may return Wednesday or Thursday. It is a chance, however not a certainty. If he can, nice. If not, then the Mets will lean on Acuña and Iglesias to proceed their current excellence for one more few video games.

3. Thursday’s recreation is a make-up recreation

This was initially a two-game sequence. Thursday’s sequence finale is a make-up recreation of the April 10 rainout, and good gravy, assume how a lot issues have modified since then! Acuña — Ronald, not Luisangel — was wholesome on April 10. So had been Lindor and Austin Riley. Murphy was on the injured record on the time. Manaea, Thursday’s scheduled starter, had not but lowered his arm slot and morphed into an ace. Iglesias and Mark Vientos had been in Triple-A. On and on we may go.

The common season is an extended 162-game grind and a lot has modified since this recreation was initially on the books. And you realize what? That is baseball. Generally you win, typically you lose, and typically it rains. On paper, I might say the rainout favors the Mets. They will have Iglesias and Vientos within the lineup and this Manaea on the mound Thursday, and Braves will not have Acuña and Riley within the lineup. However, that is why they play the video games. “On paper” means nothing.

4. Who’s scorching, who’s not

Baseball is a sport of cold and hot streaks. Day-to-day and week-to-week consistency is a delusion. As such, a number of gamers head into this week’s sequence swinging the bat higher than others. Listed below are the most popular Mets in September:

Acuña and Iglesias have been glorious as properly this month and particularly currently. All 5 of Alvarez’s September residence runs have are available his final 10 video games, and Taylor has been so good that he is performed virtually each single day down the stretch. He is began eight of the final 10 video games whereas rotating between the three outfield spots.

On the opposite finish of the spectrum, JD Martinez has been simply dreadful in September (.068/.180/.091), and is now on the quick aspect of a DH platoon with Jesse Winker. Vientos has struck out in near 40% of his plate appearances in September and is having a tricky month as properly. Except for his game-winning homer Sunday, Brandon Nimmo has been quiet on the plate the previous few weeks.

Right here now are three Braves gamers who’ve swung the bat properly in September:

Soler’s outfield protection has been poor since becoming a member of the Braves, although his bat is making up for it this month. Marcell Ozuna has been nice in September as properly — he is been nice all yr, actually — slashing .329/.417/.425. As our R.J. Anderson wrote final week, the Braves have gotten very nice manufacturing from damage replacements like Ramón Laureano and Whit Merrifield.

Atlanta’s September laggers embrace each catchers, Murphy (.079/.182/.184) and Travis d’Arnaud (.171/.310/.200), and shortstop Orlando Arcia (.160/.213/.267). Arcia has been a drain on the offense all yr. The Braves figured they’d sufficient offense to hold his gentle bat this season, however accidents have made his lack of manufacturing a bit extra pricey.

5. What’s subsequent?

That is the ultimate week of the common season and this Braves vs. Mets sequence is every crew’s second-to-last sequence of the yr. After this, the Mets head to Milwaukee to play a Brewers crew that has already clinched the NL Central and nonetheless has an opportunity to get a Wild Card Collection bye. Their precedence is avoiding damage and placing themselves in the absolute best place for October, not chasing each final common season win, however do not count on them to roll over with the bye nonetheless in play.

The Braves, in the meantime, keep residence to play three video games in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Royals this weekend. The Royals are in their very own postseason race — they seem to be a recreation up on a wild-card spot — so, on paper, the ultimate sequence is benefit Mets. They will play a Brewers crew that has already gained the division and is not going all-out to win each final recreation whereas the Braves get a determined Royals crew. There’s an opportunity — a small one, however nonetheless an opportunity — Sport 162 between the Braves and Royals this coming Sunday is a win or go residence state of affairs for each groups. Would not that be enjoyable?