Previewing this weekend's three-game series between the Braves and Mets in New York.
When (TV): 7:10 p.m. Friday (FSSO), 7:15 p.m. Saturday (Fox), 8:05 p.m. Sunday (ESPN)
Radio: 680, 93.7, 100.5
Probable starting pitchers:
Friday: Braves RH Kris Medlen (1-5, 3.02 ERA) vs. RH Jeremy Hefner (0-5, 5.00)
Saturday: Braves LH Mike Minor (5-2, 2.78) vs. RH Dillon Gee (2-5, 6.04)
Sunday: Braves RH Julio Teheran (3-1, 3.99) vs. RH Shaun Marcum (0-5, 6.59)
About the Braves:
Batting: Evan Gattis went 3-for-6 with three homers and seven RBIs in four games on the homestand. His 10 homers are twice as many as any other rookie, and his 27 RBIs are 10 more than any other rookie and one behind team leader Justin Upton (in 40 fewer at-bats). Jordan Schafer is 12-for-33 (.364) in his past 12 games with two triples, a homer, seven runs and a .432 OBP. Freddie Freeman is 15-for-33 (.455) with runners in scoring position and has seven RBIs in seven games.
Pitching: Medlen is 3-0 with a 1.58 ERA in 15 games (five starts) against the Mets, 3-0 with a 1.47 ERA in three starts last season. He hasn't faced them this season. The Braves have scored two runs or fewer while Medlen has been in a game in six of his nine starts, including none while he was in three. He's 0-2 in his past four starts despite a 2.73 ERA and .219 opponents' average. The Braves scored no runs while he was in his past two. Medlen held the Dodgers to two hits and one unearned run in seven innings Saturday and got no decision in a 3-1 win. Against the Mets, Minor is 3-1 with a 5.63 ERA in seven starts, and Teheran is 1-0 with a 5.63 ERA in two games (one start).
Miscellaneous: The Braves are 13-3 with a .284 average and a 3.10 ERA in their past 16 vs. the Mets. The teams split a rain-shortened series May 3-5 at Turner Field. The Braves had their 11th three-homer game Wednesday, matching their total from 2012. During the current six-game winning streak, the Braves have hit .273 with nine homers, 34 runs, and a 1.96 ERA. Reed Johnson's .365 average and 15 RBIs in 85 at-bats vs. the Mets includes 14-for-36 (.389) in 14 games at Citi Field.
About the Mets:
Batting: Since being released by the Astros and signing with the Mets, ex-Brave Rick Ankiel is 10-for-31 (.323) with seven extra-base hits (two homers) and six RBIs in nine games. Marlon Byrd, formerly of Georgia Tech and Sprayberry High, has hit .308 with three homers and nine RBIs in 13 May games. In his past 23 games vs. the Braves, David Wright is 29-for-90 (.322) with seven doubles, five homers, 17 RBIs, and a .386 OBP and .567 slugging percentage.
Pitching: Hefner is winless in eight starts, including 0-2 with a 6.19 ERA in his past three. In those three, he allowed 18 hits and seven walks in 16 innings. Against the Braves, he's 0-1 with an 8.53 ERA in two games (one start), both last season. Hefner gave up eight hits and five runs in 2 2/3 innings of a Sept. 8 start against them at Citi Field. Against the Braves, Gee is 3-2 with a 3.13 ERA in eight starts, and Marcum is 1-1 with a 2.96 ERA in four starts.
Miscellaneous: Matt Harvey is 5-0 with a 1.93 ERA, while all other Mets starters are a combined 5-19 with a 5.34 ERA. The Braves will not face Harvey in this series and didn't face him earlier this month because of the rainout. The Mets are 3-10 with a .214 average and 5.26 ERA in their past 13. Their opponents scored seven or more runs in five of those games, while the Mets scored three or fewer in nine. Hefner has allowed a .353 average, .439 OBP and .691 slugging percentage in 68 at-bats vs. left-handed hitters, and .188/.257/.315 in 96 ABs vs. righties.
