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Series Preview 4/8-4/10: New York Mets vs Atlanta Braves

By Brandon Woodworth

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Get ready for the 2014 home opener for your Atlanta Braves with our series preview!

The Braves (4-2) will be visited by division rival New York Mets (2-4) for this three game set, which opens on the 40th anniversary of Hank Aaron‘s historic 715th home run.

Game 1:

7:10 PM EST, Tuesday, April 8th

Probables: Bartolo Colon (0-1, 4.50 ERA) vs Aaron Harang (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

Game 2:

7:10 PM EST, Wednesday, April 9th

Probables: Zack Wheeler (0-1, 4.50 ERA) vs Ervin Santana

Game 3:

7:10 PM EST, Thursday, April 10th

Probables: Jenrry Mejia (1-0, 1.50 ERA) vs David Hale (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Things To Look For:

  • Bartolo Colon was not quite spectacular in his first start for the Mets, allowing 9 hits including 2 homers over 6 innings.  After a rocky Spring, the Braves could look to capitalize early to help boost confidence in their offensive consistencies.
  • Despite losing Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy for the year, the Braves and their makeshift rotation currently lead the Majors in starters ERA (via Dave O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution).  This was possible to due very strong starts from the veteran Harang and the rookie Hale.  Both can’t be expected to pitch near no hitters, but the success of these two could keep the Braves at the head of the pitching pack.
  • Ervin Santana will make both his 2014 and National League debut on Wednesday.
  • The Braves currently sport 4 starting players with a batting average lower than .200.  Despite early struggles and big strikeout rates, it doesn’t look like Fredi Gonzalez looks to deviate from his batting configuration.  This could become a problem if these struggles spill over into the next couple of series.
  • The Mets seem to have settled on Lucas Duda as their primary first baseman, despite the early success of Ike Davis and the presence of Josh Satin, who was solid in limited action last season.  Although Duda himself has struggled, Mets manager Terry Collins says to expect him to start tonight’s series opener.
  • The Braves are just 1-20 with runners in scoring position and two outs so far.  Freddie Freeman and company could look to spark against a Matt Harvey-less Mets staff.
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