Mets at Braves (Game 2)
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: 7:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FS Southeast (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets TBA vs. Braves RH Brandon McCarthy (5-2, 4.67 ERA)
The Mets might opt for a bullpen game in the nightcap and reportedly are not announcing their starter until Monday. One potential candidate to begin the game is right-hander Seth Lugo (1-0, 1.72 ERA), who has pitched a career-high 17 scoreless innings with 19 strikeouts in May and made three multi-inning appearances since May 15. Right-hander Robert Gsellman (4-1, 3.31) has made 29 career starts but gave up two runs in relief Sunday, while newly-promoted left-hander P.J. Conlon gave up three runs over 3 2/3 innings in starting his only appearance in the majors May 7 at Cincinnati.
McCarthy has rebounded nicely from two awful starts to begin May, allowing just one run in each of his past two outings while striking out 13 over 11 2/3 innings. The 34-year-old, who opened the month by surrendering 14 runs in 8 1/3 innings for his first two losses of the season, earned the victory Tuesday at Philadelphia with 5 2/3 innings of one-run, four-hit pitching. McCarthy, who has yet to face the Mets this season, sports a 5.40 ERA and a 1.80 WHIP at home compared to 4.22 and 1.44 on the road.
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 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.