Game Preview: Mets @ Braves

After splitting a series with the Twins the Mets return to their early, heavy NL East schedule tonight. They’re about to kick off a 7 game road trip featuring 4 games against the 7-4 Braves (same record as the Mets!) and then 3 games against the 7-4 Phillies (same record as the Mets!). Early on in the season, the NL East is playing out exactly as described with the Braves, Mets, Phillies and Nationals separated by a game and the Marlins holding a 3-9 record.

Sometimes pitchers make the game look easy. Sometimes pitchers show how incredibly hard it is to post a a good outing. Steven Matz was the latter on Saturday. He had a great outing but threw a ton of pitches early, knocking him out of the game early due to pitch count. Overall on the season he has allowed 3 runs, 1 earned over 10.1 innings (0.87 ERA) from 8 hits and 4 walks. Matz only faced the Braves once last year and pitched 3.0, 1-hit innings, injured his hand and had to leave the game. The Braves have the following numbers against him:

Freddie Freeman 4-15, 2B, BB, 3 K
Nick Markakis 3-15, 2B, BB, 4 K
Tyler Flowers 2-10, 2B, BB, 3 K
Ender Inciarte 2-7, BB
Johan Camargo 2-5
Dansby Swanson 1-3, 2B
Ozzie Albies 1-2

The Mets bats get to see long time Oriole, Kevin Gausman! Gausman was traded to Braves with O’Day at the deadline last year for prospects and slot money. He had a fantastic 2019 debut last week picking up the win after allowing 2 hits and 2 walks and nothing else over 7.0 innings. In 10 starts and 59.2 innings as a Brave last year he had a 2.87 ERA, 3.78 FIP, 1.140 WHIP and 140 ERA+. For comparison, with the Orioles last year he tossed 124.0 innings over 21 starts and posted a 4.43 ERA, 4.58 FIP, 1.379 WHIP, and a 95 ERA+. Kevin’s one start against the Mets last year wasn’t very good as he allowed 3 runs off 6 hits and 2 walks in 5.0 innings. The Mets have the following numbers against him: