Series preview: vs. New York Mets
When (TV): 7:35 p.m. Friday (FSSO), 7:10 p.m. Saturday (FSSO), 1:35 p.m. Sunday (FSSO)
Radio: 680, 93.7, 106.7
Probable starting pitchers:
Friday: Braves RH Julio Teheran (13-12, 2.89 ERA) vs. RH Zack Wheeler (10-10, 3.61)
Saturday: Braves LH Mike Minor (6-11, 4.74) vs. LH Jonathon Niese (8-11, 3.55)
Sunday: Braves RH Ervin Santana (14-9, 3.74) vs. RH Jacob deGrom (8-6, 2.68)
About the Braves:
Batting: Phil Gosselin went 3-for-4 Wednesday against the Nationals to make him 5-for-12 (.417) in three games in the leadoff spot. Gosselin has hit safely in 19 of 22 games in which he's started while hitting .337 (29-for-84). Christian Bethancourt has gone 7-for-31 (.226) while playing in place of the injured Evan Gattis, but drove in three runs on three hits in the three games against Washington. He's batting 9-for-17 (.529) with runners in scoring position and two outs. Jason Heyward is a question mark for the series opener after getting hit in the left thumb by a pitch. X-rays were negative but his return depends on the amount of swelling he has.
Pitching: Teheran has lost all three of his September starts, despite a 2.70 ERA and a .225 opponents' batting average. He's been victimized by a lack of run support and some poor defensive play, including a Justin Upton error that led to three runs in a 3-2 loss in Texas his last time out. Teheran snapped Wheeler's season-high six-game winning streak with a 3-2 win in their last meeting three weeks ago. Andrelton Simmons made a great snare and jump throw from shortstop to preserve the game for Teheran and Jordan Walden. Teheran had given up only one run in 6 2/3 innings.
Miscellaneous: After missing all of last week with strep throat Evan Gattis was ultimately diagnosed with kidney stone, but the Braves medical staff felt he was on track to recovering and could rebound soon. Simmons had to leave Wednesday's game with a foot injury but with Thursday's off day figured to return at some point this series.
About the Mets:
Batting: Wilmer Flores has hit three home runs and driven in 10 runs during a five-game hitting streak, while batting 9-for-19 (.474). He snapped an 0-for-21 with a two-run home run Sept. 13 and has hit 9-for-18 (.500) since, including his first career two-homer game. David Wright was shut down for the year to rest his ailing shoulder, and Daniel Murphy moved to third place in his absence. Murphy is only 4-for-25 (.160) in his past six games. Dynamic center fielder Juan Lagares sprained his right elbow Wednesday and is likely out for a few days.
Pitching: Wheeler game up six runs in four innings in a loss to the Nationals his last time out, snapping a streak of 13 straight starts allowing three earned runs or fewer. Wheeler is 7-2 with a 2.74 ERA since June 25, and the Braves are the other team to hand him a loss during that stretch. The Smyrna product gave up three runs (two earned) including a Heyward homer in seven innings of a 3-2 loss to Teheran Aug. 27. Wheeler is 0-2 with a 3.70 ERA in four starts against the Braves this season after going 3-0 with a 2.89 ERA in three starts against them last year.
Miscellaneous: The Mets have lost four of their past five games with a 9-1 win over the Marlins behind Bartolo Colon the only exception. The Mets would have to win eight of their final nine games to avoid a sixth straight losing season, which is one shy of the franchise record.
- Carroll Rogers
