The New York Mets (6-3) and Atlanta Braves (5-4) will open up a three-game National League East series on Monday night at Turner Field, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 ET.
New York Mets at Atlanta Braves
New York was unable to hold an early lead against the Philadelphia Phillies Sunday, dropping an 8-2 contest at Citizens Bank Park. The Mets still managed to win the series by capturing the first two games, while the “over” cashed in two of three contests. Offensively, third baseman David Wright has been carrying the load in hitting .571 with two home runs and five RBIs, as he continues to play with a broken pinkie finger. Don’t expect that type of pace to continue inside tonight’s venue, as Wright has managed to hit just .115 in his last 15 games there. New York is 10-22 as a road underdog of +150 to +175 the last two-plus seasons.
Mets starting pitcher Dillon Gee (0-1, 5.06 ERA) was handed a 6-2 home loss by the Washington Nationals on April 10, surrendering four runs (three earned) and eight hits over 5.1 innings of work. The right-hander will be facing the Braves for the eighth time in his career, posting an even 2-2 mark and 3.46 ERA in seven starts. Gee often struggled away from Citi Field during the 2011 campaign despite finishing with a 6-3 record, as he allowed nine home runs in 78.1 innings and finished with a 5.74 ERA (3.17 home ERA).
Atlanta is one of the hottest teams in baseball in winnings its last five games, which includes a three-game home sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend. The Braves have also managed to go “over” the total in six of their last seven games. Revenge will certainly be on the minds of the clubhouse after getting swept by the Mets in its first three games of the 2012 season. “We just need to keep winning,” stated Braves catcher Brian McCann. Atlanta still has a losing 26-33 April record over the last two-plus seasons.
Braves starting pitcher Tommy Hanson (1-1, 2.70 ERA) is coming off a 6-4 road win over the Houston Astros on April 10, as the right-hander will be making his first start of the season in front of the home fans. Hanson was handed a 1-0 loss against the Mets in the season opener on April 5, giving up just one run and four hits over five frames. In eight career outings versus New York, the 25-year-old is 3-4 with a 3.48 ERA, including an 0-2 mark and 10.80 ERA in two starts last year.
Bettors will likely back the Mets due to their 11-5 record in Gee’s last 16 starts as an underdog, while the Braves are 0-8 in their last eight games versus divisional opponents.
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