Mets at Braves (Game 1)
The New York Mets saw their bullpen give up 17 runs on 21 hits over 10 2/3 innings while losing three in a row at Milwaukee, not exactly the best way to enter Monday’s day-night doubleheader at the Atlanta Braves. The rough weekend dropped the Mets to just one game above .500 and four behind the National League East-leading Braves coming into a four-game series, and New York is struggling to keep players on the field.
Reliever A.J. Ramos returned to New York for a MRI on his right shoulder Sunday while infielder Wilmer Flores experienced back soreness in Sunday’s 8-7 loss and also is heading home for further examination, meaning newly-signed Jose Bautista - who is 4-for-9 in five games with the Mets after the Braves released him last week - will likely move from left field to third base. Atlanta also has injury concerns as 20-year-old phenom Ronald Acuna left Sunday’s 7-1 victory at Boston after hitting first base awkwardly in beating out an infield single in the seventh inning. He was able to walk off the field under his own power after staying down for several minutes with what the Braves termed, “knee and lower back pain,” and reportedly was undergoing testing at a Boston hospital after the game. Acuna’s injury marred an otherwise outstanding day for Atlanta as it salvaged a 2-4 road trip by pounding Red Sox ace Chris Sale for six runs across 4 1/3 innings, getting four hits and four RBIs from the duo of Tyler Flowers and Kurt Suzuki.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FS Southeast (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Jacob deGrom (4-0, 1.54 ERA) vs. Braves LH Max Fried (0-2, 6.00)
It has been a stellar two months for deGrom, who leads the NL in ERA and homers per nine innings (0.3) while ranking second in strikeouts per nine innings (11.9). The 29-year-old has surrendered only one run in his past 33 1/3 innings with 47 strikeouts, matching his career high with 13 punchouts in seven innings against Arizona on May 18. DeGrom has not allowed a run in two starts (both no decisions) against the Braves this season, striking out 16 and giving up six hits in 11 innings.
Atlanta will call up the 24-year-old Fried for his first start of the season and his fifth major-league starting assignment. He has appeared in four games in the majors this season, all in relief, giving up four runs on five hits over six innings with seven strikeouts. Fried, who posted a 3.44 ERA while going 1-1 in four starts in 2017, is Atlanta’s No. 7 prospect according to MLB Pipeline and is 1-2 with a 3.12 ERA in five minor-league starts this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta 1B Freddie Freeman extended his hitting streak to eight games Sunday and is batting .325 on the season with a .965 OPS.
2. New York 2B Asdrubal Cabrera and C Devin Mesoraco each went deep Sunday, giving the Mets 22 homers in their past 17 games.
3. Monday’s doubleheader is the result of an April 22 rainout, but rains from Subtropical Storm Alberto could impact the series.