The Atlanta Braves and New York Mets face off at 1:10 p.m. ET for the last matchup of their two-game series. The first-place Braves will try to avoid a sweep as the Mets won Tuesday's meeting, 5-3 behind a dominant Zack Wheeler. Who will be on the hill for both teams?
It will be a matchup of lefties on Wednesday afternoon in Queens. The Braves will send their young sensation Alex Wood to the mound. He will face the Mets for the third time since making his debut as a starter back on July 25. He's been extremely dominant in his last three starts, but he hasn't fared well against the Mets.
In two starts against the Mets, Wood is 0-1. He gave up one run in three innings in his first ever MLB start. In his second start against the Mets, Wood was worse. He surrendered four earned runs in 4.1 innings pitched, but got the no-decision. Which Wood will the Braves get today? In his last three starts, Wood has pitched 18.1 innings, allowing two earned runs, nine hits with two three walks and 19 strikeouts. He is one of the reasons Braves' manager, Fredi Gonzalez, is debating on establishing six-man rotation for the second straight year.
The Mets will have their lefty, Jon Niese on the mound. Since coming off a two-month disabled list stint, Niese is red hot, winning both of his decisions. The Mets backed him up with a great performance against the Arizona Diamondbacks after surrendering four earned runs in six innings pitched. His next start against the San Diego Padres went better as Niese only gave up one earned run in six innings pitched. He struck out nine batters, while walking one.
The Braves have struggled as of late. However, this has done little to slow down their run in 2013. They are 15 games up on the second place Washington Nationals and 17.5 games ahead of the Mets. The Mets have been their Kryptonite this season as the Braves are 7-8 against the New York team from Queens in 2013.