Braves lead NL East, Mets visit for 4-game series

The Atlanta Braves remain in the top spot in the National League East, but the Philadelphia Phillies are gaining ground. The two teams have played six times this season and will play another seven times in September. Until then, the NL East title will have to be decided against the other teams in the division. Welcome, struggling New York Mets, to Atlanta for a four-game series over the Fourth of July weekend. 

Beginning on Friday, July 3, the Braves will host the Mets in front of what should be multiple sold-out crowds at Truist Park, where the Braves have had a dozen sellouts this season. That includes Father’s Day, June 17, when 39,449 fans attended the game against the Milwaukee Brewers. 

The Braves and Mets have played three times already this season. The Mets won that series at Citi Field, taking two of three games. During the three games, the Braves and manager Walt Weiss saw starters Spencer Strider (three innings, six hits, seven earned runs) and Bryce Elder give up 13 earned runs during their starts. The Braves not only lost both games, but the Mets were struggling to score runs at the time, but found a way to score plenty in those games.   

The one game that Atlanta did win in New York, 3-1, was led by Eli White. The reserve outfielder drove in two of the three runs and was 3-4 in the game. Martin Perez started that game for the Braves and went five innings, giving up just one earned run while striking out four Mets.

Elder has been struggling ever since that start in New York (six earned runs). Against the Brewers on Father’s Day, he gave up eight earned runs and 12 hits in six innings. On Saturday, June 27, in San Francisco, he only managed to pitch four innings before giving up five earned runs to a Giants team that is more than a dozen games under .500 and near the last place spot in the National League West. Grant Holmes came on in relief for Elder and pitched three scoreless innings. Holmes has started 15 games this season. 

Friday’s game against the Mets has a 7:15 p.m. first pitch, while Saturday, Independence Day, has an 8 p.m. first pitch scheduled. Sunday’s game, an afternoon game, will begin at 12:30 p.m., and Monday will have a regular 7:15 p.m. start.

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