Mets vs Braves Preview: Ghosts, Hamstrings, and Hero Pitches

The Braves dominated the Mets on Friday night at Truist Park. Atlanta's bats exploded early and often. Harris II launched a 419-foot bomb to center field in the second inning. Olson then went yard twice—once in the fifth and again in the eighth—crushing the ball over the right field wall both times. The Mets scratched out a few runs with Soto's 359-foot home run, but it wasn't enough. Atlanta won 5-3 and grabbed the early advantage in this series. Now the Mets come back Sunday looking to even things up and get back into this matchup.

The Mets will hand the ball to Nolan McLean on Sunday. He's the probable starter for New York's attempt to bounce back. The Braves counter with Martin Perez on the mound. Both pitchers have their work cut out for them. The Mets are struggling badly right now—they're 36-52 on the season with just two wins in their last ten games. Atlanta sits at 51-35 and has won their last game. This matchup is huge for New York. They need to stop the bleeding and grab a victory at Truist Park. McLean has to keep the Braves' powerful lineup off balance.

Both teams are banged up entering Sunday's game. The Mets are missing several key players including Marcus Semien at second base and center fielder Luis Robert Jr., who's working his way back from a serious back injury. The Braves also deal with plenty of absences. Ronald Acuña Jr. is on the injured list with a hamstring strain but worked out recently at Truist Park. Catcher Sean Murphy remains sidelined with a fractured finger and won't play baseball activities for weeks. Both squads are fighting through injuries, making depth and resilience crucial. The teams that stay healthy and keep rolling will control this series.