Mets at Braves
The New York Mets come into Tuesday’s game at the Atlanta Braves following a very long Monday at the ballpark, a day-night doubleheader that featured more than three hours of rain delays and yet another bullpen meltdown. But the wait was worth it for the skidding Mets, who rallied for an 8-5 victory in the nightcap to snap a four-game losing streak as Kevin Plawecki returned to the lineup with three hits and a walk, and the much-maligned bullpen covered seven innings.
The Mets endured more relief struggles in the opener, Atlanta winning 4-3 on Charlie Culberson’s pinch-hit, two-run walk-off homer in the ninth inning to drop New York to 14-24 following its 11-1 start to the season. New York relievers allowed 20 runs on 24 hits in 12 innings during the team's skid, but Hansel Robles returned from the disabled list with three scoreless innings in the nightcap as Mets relievers finished the second game with only one run allowed on five hits. Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman had a pair of multi-hit games to extend his hitting streak to 10 games, while catcher Kurt Suzuki finished the second game with a homer and two hits, raising his average against New York this season to .458 with three homers and eight RBIs. But the first-place Braves struggled throughout the doubleheader to bring home baserunners, a recurring theme of late, leaving 17 runners on base in the two games.
TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FS Southeast (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Steven Matz (2-3, 3.80 ERA) vs. Braves RH Anibal Sanchez (1-0, 1.29)
Matz has received three runs or fewer of support in five of his first nine starts but has given up more than one run only once in his past four outings. The 26-year-old fired six strong innings in a 5-0 victory Thursday at Milwaukee, allowing four hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Matz, who makes his 51st major-league start, is 4-0 with a 2.97 ERA in six career starts against the Braves.
Sanchez returns from a minor-league rehab assignment to make his third start of the season, becoming the eighth starter used by Atlanta in its past 12 games. The 34-year-old struck out 14 in 14 innings while allowing two runs on 11 hits across three appearances (two starts) before suffering a right hamstring injury April 18. Sanchez gave up eight runs in his first rehab appearance May 21 but pitched three scoreless innings on Friday.
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta placed LF Ronald Acuna on the 10-day disabled list with a mild ACL sprain in his left knee and a lower back contusion, but the Braves believe their standout rookie avoided serious injury.
2. New York SS Amed Rosario finished with a season-high three RBIs in the nightcap.
3. Rains from Subtropical Storm Alberto caused a 31-minute rain delay in the opener, the nightcap started 2 hours, 57 minutes late due to rain, and more rain is in the forecast Tuesday and Wednesday.