The New York Mets (18-8) responded by losing the first game of a series against the Atlanta Braves (11-15) by sweeping the defending champs in a Tuesday doubleheader. They can keep their streak alive of winning every series this season by taking the finale on Wednesday afternoon. The series finale is set for 1:10 p.m. ET at Citi Field, airing on MLB Network.
The Mets send RHP Tylor Megill (4-0, 1.93) to the mound against Braves RHP Ian Anderson (2-1, 4.66). The Mets lead the season series 2-1, and the teams won’t play again until mid-July. Last year the Braves won the season series 10-9, and they took the 2020 series 7-3.
Acuna Back to Help Braves
The Braves are 5-8 on the road this season and 3-6 against NL East teams. They are 6-10 against right-handed starters and just 4-6 in their last ten games. The over is 13-12-1 in the Braves’ 26 games this season.
Ronald Acuna was 1-for-3 in the doubleheader and is batting .200 since returning from his 2021 knee injury. Matt Olson had a three-run homer in the opener and two hits in game two, while Ozzie Albies also had two hits in the nightcap. In Monday’s win, Austin Riley hit his seventh homer of the season while Travis d’Arnaud drove in three runs with two doubles.
On the season, d’Arnaud leads the Braves with a .313 average, and Olson is hitting .295. Riley leads the team with seven homes, Albies has six, and Marcell Ozuna has hit four. Olson has 11 doubles, Riley has 14 RBI, but the Braves pitching staff has a team ERA of 4.19 on the season.
Anderson won his last start on Friday with six innings in which he allowed two runs on three hits while striking out six. He’s gone at least five innings in three straight starts and has 17 strikeouts in 19 ⅓ innings on the season. Anderson is 1-1 on the road in 2022 with a 2.31 ERA and two homers allowed in 11 ⅔ innings.
Against the Mets, he was 1-1 last year with a no-decision, allowing six runs in 16 ⅓ innings. Dominic Smith is 3-for-10 against Anderson with a home run, while James McCann is 4-for-7 with a dinger. Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor are both 1-for-7, while Starling Marte and Jeff McNeil are a combined 0-for-14.
Mets Looking For Another Series Win
The Mets are 9-4 at home this season and 16-4 against starting right-handed pitchers. They are 9-4 against the NL East. The under is 12-11-3 in their 26 games so far this season.
In Tuesday’s doubleheader sweep, Pete Alonso was 4-for-8 with a homer and three RBI, while Travis Jankowski had two hits and three runs scored.
Dominic Smith drove in two runs in the second game with a double, while Francisco Lindor, Mark Canha, and Eduardo Escobar also had an RBI in game one. Carlos Carrasco tossed eight shutout innings in game one, and the bullpen didn’t allow a run in the doubleheader.
New York’s pitching has led the way with a team ERA of 3.07 and a WHIP of 1.03. They are averaging more than ten strikeouts per game and a 3.5 strikeout to walk ratio. Edwin Diaz has five of the Mets’ seven saves and an ERA of 1.54.
Megill was the Mets’ opening day starter, and he has 27 strikeouts in 28 innings on the campaign. On Friday, he beat Philadelphia with five hitless innings and five strikeouts in a start that ended with a multi-pitcher no-hitter. Megill has gone at least five innings in every start this season, and he is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA at home.
Against the Braves last season, Megill was 1-0 in five starts with six runs allowed in 19 2/3 innings of work. Albies is 3-for-10 against Megill with a home run, and Riley is 2-for-10 with a home run. Olson, Ozuna, and d’Arnaud have never faced the righty, while Acuna is 1-for-2.
Betting Analysis
- Atlanta Braves +1.5 run line (-180). +115 Moneyline
- New York Mets -1.5 run line (+155). -130 Moneyline
- Run Total: 7. Over -110. Under -110
Megill has been lights out for the Mets this season and one of the biggest surprises in the Majors. The Braves offense has struggled without home runs, though getting Acuna bad to the top of the lineup is helping. New York has a big edge in the bullpen and pitching side, and they should win the Wednesday tilt and the series.
Betting Pick: Mets moneyline (-130)
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