The Mets and Braves are heading into the biggest series of the year - a three-game set in the A-T-L on the final weekend of the regular season.
Two months into the season, it looked like the New York Mets were headed for an NL East runaway.Sparked by two budding stars, the Atlanta Braves suddenly found their mojo.
The NL East champion gets a first-round bye. The team that winds up second will have to host a best-of-three series, most likely against the San Diego Padres. Looking for more punch at the plate, New York is calling up 20-year-old Francisco Álvarez - baseball's top-rated prospect - ahead of Friday's opener.
Michael Harris II was called up from Double-A to join the lineup on May 28, largely with the idea that he would bolster the team's defense in center field. The hard-throwing right-hander with the bushy mustache began the year in the bullpen before making his first career start on May 30. Even without Strider, the pitching matchups are enticing: New York's Jacob deGrom against Atlanta's Max Fried on Friday, followed by Max Scherzer vs. Kyle Wright on Saturday, and Chris Bassitt vs. Charlie Morton Sunday night.With Hurricane Ian barreling up the East Coast, the Mets proposed shifting the series opener to Thursday - an off day for both teams. The Braves declined, having played 13 straight days.The Braves have been chasing the Mets all summer, finally catching them on Sept.