The top two teams in the NL East lock up as they continue an early week series on the diamond down in Hotlanta. It’s the New York Mets on the road as they travel to face the Atlanta Braves in the second game of a four-game series Tuesday night. New York took two of three from the Phillies over the weekend at home, rolling to a 6-0 triumph Sunday afternoon in the rubber game of the set. Atlanta swept a four-game road set from the Marlins down in South Beach, capped with a 3-1 triumph Sunday afternoon in the finale of the series. This article was published prior to the conclusion of the series opener Monday night at Truist Park.
New York bounced back from losing Friday’s opener with the Phillies by blanking Philadelphia in back-to-back games over the weekend. The Mets entered Monday leading the NL East by 5.5 games over the Braves and try to extend that edge here. On Sunday, New York had 10 hits with every starter having at least one: Mark Canha (run, RBI) was the lone player with two. Daniel Vogelbach hit his 15th homer of the season for New York in the contest. Chris Bassitt (10-7) earned the win on the mound as he threw five innings, allowing no runs on four hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Four relievers closed out the combined shutout for the Mets.
Taijuan Walker takes the hill for the Mets as he logs his 21st start of the season in this contest. He comes in 10-3 with a 3.43 ERA, a 1.196 WHIP, 31 walks and 85 strikeouts over 110.1 innings of work on the year. Walker earned the win i n his last start, which came Wednesday at home against the Reds. He threw six innings, allowing two runs on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts in a game the Mets won 10-2. In his last three starts, Walker is 2-1 with a 9.24 ERA, a 1.89 WHIP, five walks and nine strikeouts over 12.2 innings of work. Walker makes his seventh career start against the Braves in this contest. He is 1-2 with a 5.54 ERA, a 1.077 WHIP, four walks and 27 strikeouts over 26 innings of work against them. Walker has no record, a 2.00 ERA, a 0.667 WHIP, no walks and six strikeouts over nine innings in two career starts at Truist Park.