The Atlanta Braves have spent the past two years rebuilding for the future, and two key parts of that plan came through in the opener of their four-game series against the visiting New York Mets, which continues Saturday with a split doubleheader. Dansby Swanson hustled for a double in the ninth inning on Friday to set the stage for Rio Ruiz, who delivered the game-winning single to left field as Atlanta posted its third victory in a row to pull within five games of .500.
Swanson, who got off to a miserable start this season, finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs to raise his average this month to .407. New York received solo homers from Curtis Granderson and Travis d’Arnaud in the series opener, giving it blasts in 23 of its 25 road games this year, but the team's bullpen gave up three runs in four innings. After hitting .327 in winning two of three in Atlanta early last month, the Mets collected just five hits in 31 at-bats on Friday. Jay Bruce registered two of them, extending his hitting streak to six games.
TV: 6 p.m. ET, WPIX (New York), FSN South (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Steven Matz (2016: 9-8, 3.40 ERA) vs. Braves RH Matt Wisler (0-0, 7.00)
New York’s battered rotation gets a boost with the season debut of Matz, who has been sidelined with a strained flexor tendon in his left elbow. The 26-year-old made four rehab starts, allowing one run and two hits in three innings of an outing for Single-A St. Lucie while posting a 6.75 ERA over 13 1/3 frames for Triple-A Las Vegas. Matz has recorded three of his 13 career victories against the Braves, registering a 3.38 ERA in five starts.
Wisler, who made 45 starts for Atlanta over the previous two seasons, makes his first of 2017 after six appearances out of the bullpen. After going 8-8 as a rookie in 2015, the 24-year-old gave up 26 homers in 156 2/3 innings last year en route to a 7-13 record and 5.00 ERA. Wisler has faced the Mets three times this season in relief, surrendering seven runs and nine hits over four frames.
WALK-OFFS1. The Mets have dropped 10 of their last 14 road games but have homered in 12 straight away from home.
2. Braves LF Matt Kemp recorded his seventh three-hit performance of the season Friday and ranks in the top 10 in the National League in hitting (.333).
3. Granderson is one homer away from 300 for his career and four doubles shy of reaching the same total in that category.