Braves at Mets
Jeff McNeil had just four hits as a major-leaguer before his four-hit performance Saturday night, and the New York Mets second baseman figures to be in the lineup again as his team tries to salvage a split of a four-game home series Sunday against the Atlanta Braves. McNeil’s career night, featuring three singles and a double, helped the Mets break a four-game losing streak and deliver the first New York victory against the Braves in six home games this season with a 3-0 victory.
Despite a dismal season - Saturday’s victory was just the 20th for New York in its past 62 games - there is hope for the future given a stable of strong starting pitching as Zack Wheeler fanned nine in seven innings and promising prospect Corey Oswalt takes the mound for the series finale. Even with Saturday’s loss, the Braves still have outscored New York 27-8 in six games at Citi Field this season. It was a frustrating night offensively for Atlanta, as three players who began the day ranked in the top four in the National League in hits - Nick Markakis, Freddie Freeman and Ozzie Albies - combined to go 2-for-11. Atlanta’s five-game winning streak ended and the Braves slid 1 ½ games behind Philadelphia in the NL East.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS South (Atlanta), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Julio Teheran (8-7, 4.46 ERA) vs. Mets RH Corey Oswalt (1-2, 5.27)
Teheran kept to his 2018 form Monday against Miami, following up a dismal performance in his previous start by allowing three runs on four hits in five innings for the victory. The 27-year-old has struggled to string together good starts since the beginning of June, allowing no runs in three of his nine starts since but also giving up seven earned runs twice and five runs once. Teheran is 1-1 with a 0.86 ERA in three starts against the Mets this season.
Oswalt makes his sixth major-league start (seventh appearance overall) in lieu of Steven Matz, who landed on the disabled list with a left forearm strain. The 24-year-old rookie earned his first big-league victory in his last outing July 25, allowing two runs on three hits with four strikeouts in five innings against San Diego. Oswalt gave up six runs in his first start June 29 but has surrendered just eight runs in 20 innings in his past four starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta has been shut out six times this season; the Braves were shut out 10 times in 2017.
2. New York 3B Todd Frazier scored twice Saturday and snapped a 0-for-16 skid with a sixth-inning single.
3. Braves OF Adam Duvall, acquired Monday from Cincinnati, delivered a pinch-hit single in the eighth for his first hit with Atlanta.