Mets vs Braves Preview: Heroic Manaea Faces Braves' Power

The Mets send Sean Manaea to the mound on Sunday, and he's had a tough season so far with a 1-2 record and a 4.06 ERA. He'll face off against the Braves' Chris Sale, who's been absolutely lights-out this year. Sale's ERA sits at just 1.21—that's elite stuff. The lefty has struck out 29 batters already and walks very few guys. This is a major pitching duel. Manaea needs to keep the Braves off balance early. If he can match Sale's intensity, the Mets have a fighting chance.

Both teams are struggling right now. The Mets are 36-51 overall and lost their last game. Atlanta's record is 50-35, but they've also dropped their last one. After the Braves won Friday's game 5-3, this Sunday matchup will be critical for both teams trying to find their rhythm again.

Atlanta's lineup is dangerous right now. Matt Olson crushed two home runs in Friday's game. One shot went 429 feet to right-center field. His second blast traveled 411 feet to right. Those weren't cheap hits—Olson was driving the ball with serious power. Ozzie Albies also went deep, rocketing one 386 feet to right. Harris II and Dubón contributed too. The Braves proved they can score runs in bunches.

The Mets' offense struggles to keep pace. Juan Soto hit a home run Friday for 359 feet, and Ewing scored on it, but the Mets managed only 3 runs total. New York's 36-51 record shows they're not clicking offensively. Atlanta's 50-35 mark proves their bats have been more consistent all season long. When these two teams meet, the Braves' power advantage shines through.

The Mets have a bunch of key players sidelined right now. Luis Robert Jr., Jorge Polanco, and Marcus Semien are all out with serious injuries. Clay Holmes and Justin Hagenman are also on the injured list. That's a lot of talent missing from the lineup and rotation. The team has to rely on their remaining healthy players to step up big.

Atlanta's dealing with injuries too. Ronald Acuña Jr. is on the 10-day injured list with a hamstring issue. Spencer Strider's elbow inflammation has him sidelined. Sean Murphy's fractured finger keeps him off the field. Still, the Braves have managed a 50-35 record despite missing these stars. That speaks to their roster depth. Both teams are fighting through adversity, but Atlanta seems better positioned to handle it right now.