This week, Truist Park is set to host the pivotal showdown of the 2024 MLB regular season as the Atlanta Braves welcome the New York Mets for a critical three-game series. With postseason aspirations on the line and a potential hurricane threatening the region, the stakes couldn't be higher.
For the Braves and Mets, this series will be a high-stakes battle, with one postseason spot possibly hanging in the balance. All other National League teams behind Atlanta have already been ousted from the wild-card race, leaving a four-team scramble for three coveted spots. Two years ago, the Braves swept the Mets in the penultimate series of the regular season, stripping New York of their NL East lead. Sean Murphy succinctly summed up the anticipation, “You knew it a couple weeks ago, right? That series is probably gonna help decide this thing.”
Pitching Matchups
The series kicks off on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 7:20 p.m. ET with a duel between right-handers Luis Severino of the Mets and Spencer Schwellenbach of the Braves. The following days feature marquee matchups of accomplished left-handers: David Peterson against Chris Sale on Wednesday and Sean Manaea versus Max Fried on Thursday. The Mets have strategically adjusted their rotation, using Monday’s off-day to push back Jose Quintana’s start to Friday. This maneuver ensures Quintana remains fresh for their upcoming series against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Key Players to Watch
Rookie Luisangel Acuña has been stellar at shortstop, filling in for Francisco Lindor. Acuña boasts a .409 batting average, complete with two doubles, a triple, and three home runs. Meanwhile, veteran Jose Iglesias has been an offensive powerhouse, hitting .467 since stepping into the leadoff spot and second base duties due to Jeff McNeil’s wrist injury. Lindor remains optimistic about returning this season, though he concedes he may not do so pain-free.
For the Braves, Marcell Ozuna has been an offensive force, slashing .329/.417/.425 in September. Ramón Laureano and Whit Merrifield have also made valuable contributions to the Braves’ lineup this month. However, JD Martinez and Mark Vientos have struggled offensively, an area that the Mets will need to address if they want to secure their postseason berth.
Postseason Implications
A sweep of the Mets won't guarantee the Braves a wild-card spot, especially if the Arizona Diamondbacks drop their games against the San Francisco Giants. If the Mets win two games in this series, they will punch their ticket to the postseason. However, the Braves won't necessarily be eliminated if they lose two games; they could still surpass Arizona depending on the outcomes of the final games. The Mets will then head to Milwaukee to face the Brewers, who have already clinched the NL Central and are now looking to secure a Wild Card Series bye. The Braves, on the other hand, will stay home for a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals, another team embroiled in a tight wild-card race. Game 162 could very well be a win-or-go-home showdown for both the Braves and the Royals.
As fans and teams alike brace for the conclusion of an exhilarating MLB season, one thing is certain: this series between the Braves and Mets could serve as the crucible in which dreams are realized or dashed.