Braves vs Mets Series Preview

The Atlanta Braves (70-50) and New York Mets (61-57) are set to square off in a series from Atlanta that might actually turn out to be a playoff preview.

The Braves have been on cruise control for most of the year, keeping their division rivals at arms length in the NL East thanks to a strong starting rotation and reliably good offense. They've been on top of the division since June 12 and haven't let their lead shrink to below four games since June 19.

The Mets, on the other hand, have been on an absolute roller coaster ride. At the trade deadline, they were a sub-.500 team with practically no chance of making the playoffs. But after acquiring Marcus Stroman on July 31, they've reeled off 10 wins in their last 12 games, and now sit just a game out of a Wild Card spot.

It's an exciting series that few could have predicted would have such major playoff implications. Let's take a look at the pitching matchups.

August 13th: RHP Zack Wheeler vs. LHP Max Fried

The Mets made a bold choice by holding onto Wheeler at the deadline, and he's thanked them by turning in 15 consecutive innings of shutout baseball. He's streaking at just the right time for New York, and he now owns a 9-6 record and 4.20 ERA on the season heading into the series.

Fried has been one of the most reliable arms for the Braves this year. The third-year southpaw is 13-4 with a 4.11 ERA, and his 3.40 xFIP shows that he's actually been fairly unlucky. The Mets have hit him well in 2019, though. They're hitting .356 against him as a team, so it'll be vital for him to try and buck that trend.

August 14th: LHP Steven Matz vs. LHP Dallas Keuchel

Matz has been an enigma this year. The man tossed a complete game shutout against the Pirates on July 27 and then allowed five earned runs in just 3.2 innings against them five days later. Nevertheless, he enters the series with a 3.26 ERA over his last seven starts and a 4.49 ERA to go along with a 7-7 record on the year.

After joining the Braves in mid-June and pitching well, rust seems to have caught up to Keuchel. He's managed a 4.83 ERA this season, and he's coming off a brutal outing in which he allowed eight earned runs on 10 hits to the lowly Miami Marlins offense. Hopefully for Atlanta, he can turn the corner against the Mets.

August 15th: RHP Marcus Stroman vs. RHP Julio Teheran

The Mets will trot out their prized deadline acquisition in Marcus Stroman for the final game of the series. He's sporting a 3.20 ERA on the season, though he's allowed seven earned runs in 10.1 innings of work for the Mets thus far. He'll have his work cut out for him trying to find a groove again when he faces off against the Braves.

Julio Teheran has picked 2019 as his year to remind everyone that he's the veteran ace of Atlanta's pitching staff. He boasts a sterling 3.35 ERA in 25 starts this year, and he hasn't allowed more than three runs in a start since June 24. He's the perfect guy to start the final game of the series on the mound for Atlanta.