Braves vs Mets Preview: Strider Faces McLean Friday

Spencer Strider is the Braves' ace. He's throwing fire on Friday night. Strider was an All-Star in 2023. He led all of baseball in wins and strikeouts that year. This season, he's working to get back to that elite form. The Mets' bats will need to be sharp to catch up with him. Strider can strike out batters at an incredible rate. New York's lineup faces a serious test when he's on the mound. The Braves are riding a strong 45-23 record. Atlanta's pitching staff is one of the best in baseball. Strider anchors that talented rotation. Watch how he commands his fastball early in the game.

Atlanta is missing some important players right now. Ronald Acuña Jr. is dealing with left hamstring tightness. The star right fielder might miss a few more games. Drake Baldwin, the catcher, is working his way back from an oblique strain. Sean Murphy also remains sidelined with a fractured middle finger. These injuries hurt Atlanta's depth. Sandy Leon and Chadwick Tromp are catching for now. The Braves are still 45-23 despite the absences. Their pitching staff is so strong it keeps them in games. Atlanta's offense will need to create runs without some key bats. The Mets' defense should take advantage of any chances they get.

The Mets are 30-38. That's a tough spot. They lost some stars to injuries too. Francisco Lindor should be back soon from his calf strain. Nolan McLean starts for New York on Friday. The Mets need their offense to show up at Citi Field. They're 16-17 at home this year. Atlanta's pitchers are dangerous. Strider will test every hitter in the lineup. New York just won their last game. Building momentum at home matters. The Mets have to find ways to score early. They can't wait for Strider to tire out. Their lineup needs to attack from pitch one.