Mets vs. Braves: 5 things to watch and series predictions | July 25th to 28th

Here are five things to watch and predictions like the Mets and Braves play a four-game series at Citi Field starting Thursday night…

Preview

Kodai Sengathe comeback

After missing the first four months of the season due to a shoulder injury and several setbacks, Senga is back.

The right-hander will take over in his season debut on Friday after throwing four rehab starts – throwing 79 pitches in the last one.

Senga, who was second in Rookie of the Year voting and seventh in Cy Young Award voting in 2023, should provide a shock for a team in need of a top rotation arm to aid its playoff push.

Coming off injury, it will be interesting to see how things go for Senga the first time around.

Unfortunately for the Mets, Senga’s return comes shortly after Christian ScottNew York’s injury – meaning New York will fill a void left by Scott, not build on his strength. Furthermore, their desire to have a six-player rotation despite Scott’s injury could mean the return of the Tylor Megill soon.

The Braves are decimated by injury

Atlanta is in the midst of a bad (for them) season, currently sitting in the top Wild Card spot while the Phillies run away with the NL East.

And many of the Braves’ struggles can be traced back to who they don’t have.

Spencer Strider (Tommy John surgery) and Ronald Acuña Jr. (torn ACL) were lost early in the season, robbing Atlanta of its best pitcher and hitter.

More recently, Max Frito landed in IL due to nerve inflammation and Ozzie Albies fractured his wrist – an injury that is expected to keep him out for around eight weeks.

In the midst of all this, Matt Olson is having a bad season at the plate for a Braves team that is near the bottom of the NL in runs scored.

Jeff McNeileruption of power

McNeil is starting to look more like himself. And as he grows comfortable at the plate, he is also in the midst of a power barrage.

He has hit four home runs since the Mets returned from the All-Star break, including a two-homer game against the Marlins last week in Miami.

McNeil becoming a plus again would be a huge boost for a Mets team that has been mixing and matching in the outfield with Mars Starling injured.

If McNeil continues to perform well, New York could theoretically move him to the outfield regularly while using José Iglesias at second base until Marte’s return – at which point McNeil could move back to second base.

The Wild Card race is getting… wild

With the Mets smack in the middle of a playoff chase, most of the focus is on whether they can clinch the second or third Wild Card spot.

That’s because, until recently, it was thought that Atlanta would reach the playoffs through the first Wild Card position.

However, New York is now just a short drive from Atlanta.

The team that earns the No. 1 Wild Card seed in each league hosts all three Wild Card series games, while the No. 2 and No. 3 Wild Card teams play all first-round playoff games on the road.

Atlanta’s rotation has been elite

The Braves are still in playoff position due in large part to a starting rotation that has been tremendous.

During this series, the Mets will face the Braves’ two best starters – the resurgent Chris Sale and out of nowhere Reynaldo Lopes — along with Charles Morton (who has a tendency to give the Mets fits) and rookie Spencer Schwellenbach.

Sale, who had a 4.30 ERA last season for the Red Sox, has a 2.70 ERA (2.21 FIP) and 0.95 WHIP to go along with an 11.5 strikeout rate per nine this season .

Lopez, who entered the season with a career ERA of 4.32 in eight seasons in which he was more often a reliever than a starter, is leading the NL with a 2.12 ERA.

Meanwhile, Morton has a 3.92 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. Schwellenbach has been up and down lately – involving three subpar starts around two stellar ones where he allowed just two runs combined.

Predictions

Who will be the series MVP?

Francisco Álvarez.

Alvarez likes the bright lights, as evidenced by his outburst against the Yankees at Citi Field last month, making him the pick for a big performance during this weekend series at Citi.

Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?

Luis Severino.

Severino’s stuff was electric in his first game after the All-Star break.

Which Braves player will be a thorn in the side of the Mets?

Nacho Álvarez.

Alvarez, who was called up to replace Albies, made his major league debut earlier this week.

He’s not a very powerful guy, but he got on base at an elite position in the minors.