Braves at Mets
The Atlanta Braves wrap up a 10-game road trip Thursday with the series finale at the New York Mets, and do so occupying a position in the standings where they have not been this late in the season since 2014: first place in the National League East. Facing the top of the New York rotation in the opening two games of the series did not faze the surprising Braves, who jumped all over the Mets in Wednesday’s 7-0 victory behind a combined six hits from Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis.
Ender Inciarte, Johan Camargo and Ryan Flaherty homered for the Braves, who got an outstanding start from Sean Newcomb one day after Mike Soroka dominated in his major-league debut. The Mets left Wednesday’s game with lots of concern for starting pitcher Jacob deGrom, who struck out six in four innings before exiting with a hyperextended right elbow. Yoenis Cespedes finished 1-for-4 and has seven hits in his past 11 at-bats. But the Mets have lost a second series to division rival Atlanta, and are just 6-10 since starting the season with 11 wins in their first 12 games.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Julio Teheran (1-1, 4.50 ERA) vs. Mets LH Jason Vargas (0-1, 22.09)
The Braves will watch Teheran closely considering he left Friday’s start at Philadelphia after just three innings with tightness in his trap (back) muscle, throwing only 43 pitches in allowing three runs. That shortened outing followed Teheran’s best effort of the season, an April 21 home game against the Mets where the 27-year-old gave up four hits with one walk and six strikeouts in seven innings. Teheran is holding opposing hitters to a .236 average, but has allowed six homers in 30 innings.
The 35-year-old Vargas hopes Thursday’s start - the 250th appearance in his major-league career - goes better than his Mets debut. Vargas threw 84 pitches in 3 2/3 innings, getting hammered for nine runs on nine hits (including two homers) with three walks and five strikeouts in a loss Saturday at San Diego. Vargas, an 18-game winner during an All-Star season last year in Kansas City, has two career appearances against the Braves - the last in 2006.
WALK-OFFS
1. Freeman collected his second three-hit game of the road trip and has hit safely in nine of his last 10 contests, while Markakis extended his hitting streak to nine games.
2. Atlanta SS Dansby Swanson, who is 6-for-35 with 12 strikeouts on the road trip, was removed in the sixth inning for precautionary reasons (wrist).
3. New York RF Jay Bruce went 0-for-3 Wednesday, snapping his hitting streak at eight games.