Series preview: at New York Mets
When (TV): 7:10 p.m. Monday-Thursday (SPSO)
Radio: 680, 93.7, 106.7
Probable starting pitchers:
Monday: Braves LH Mike Minor (2-5, 4.73 ERA) vs. RH Daisuke Maisuzaka (3-3, 3.72 ERA)
Tuesday: Braves RH Julio Teheran (8-5, 2.29) vs. RH Jacob deGrom (1-5, 3.77)
Wednesday: Braves RH Ervin Santana (7-5, 3.93) vs. RH Dillon Gee (3-1, 2.73)
Thursday: Braves RH Aaron Harang (8-6, 3.67) vs. RH Bartolo Colon (8-7, 4.04)
About the Braves:
Batting: B.J. Upton's career-high 11-game hit streak came to an end Sunday, along with the Braves' nine-game winning streak with an 0-for-4 in a 3-1 loss to Arizona. Upton batted 13-for-46 (.283) with a double, a triple, a home run and four RBIs over the 11 straight after Fredi Gonzalez moved him to the leadoff spot. Tommy La Stella had his third straight multi-hit game Sunday and is 11-for-29 (.379) with four doubles, one triple and six RBIs in nine games since Gonzalez dropped him back to the No. 7 hole.
Pitching: Minor is 0-2 with a 4.46 in his past eight starts dating back to his last win May 19 against Milwaukee. Minor gave up four runs in 4 1/3 innings in his last start against the Mets, when the Braves rallied for a 5-4 win. He has given up seven home runs in his past five starts, including a pair of two-run shots to Curtis Granderson and Daniel Murphy in his July 1 start against the Mets. The Braves bullpen posted a 0.40 ERA during the Braves' nine-game winning streak.
Miscellaneous: The Braves have won six of nine games against the Mets this season, including a three-game sweep last week at Turner Field when the Braves batted only .237 with no home runs but posted a 2.67 ERA in the series.
About the Mets:
Batting: David Wright returned to the Mets lineup Saturday after missing seven games with a bruised rotator cuff in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. He missed last week's series at Turner Field. He had hit in 11 straight before going 0-for-4 Sunday. He was 16-for-43 (.372) with six doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs during the streak. Travis d'Arnaud hit safely in nine of his first 10 games since returning from Triple-A, including game-winning two-run double on Friday night and a home run Saturday night. Granderson has five multi-hit games in his past 13 games, with three home runs and eight RBIs.
Pitching: Jon Niese was originally scheduled to start Wednesday before the Mets placed him on the DL Sunday with a strained left shoulder. They recalled former Brave Buddy Carlyle from Triple-A and will likely activate Dillon Gee from the DL (latissimus muscle) for Wednesday's start. Gee would be starting for the first time since May 10. The 19 losses charged to the Mets' bullpen lead the majors, but Mets relievers have a 1.61 ERA over their past 61 1/3 innings entering Sunday.
Miscellaneous: The Mets won two of three against the Rangers over the weekend, while scoring 17 runs. They scored only eight runs in three losses in their previous three games against the Braves.
- Carroll Rogers
