This week stands as the pinnacle of the 2024 MLB regular season as the Atlanta Braves welcome the New York Mets to Truist Park for a pivotal three-game series. The stakes couldn't be higher with both teams vying for the precious few postseason spots remaining.
In a twist of atmospheric drama, a potential hurricane is threatening to add another layer of unpredictability to an already high-stress situation. All other National League teams trailing Atlanta have been knocked out of wild-card contention, meaning that the battle now boils down to a fierce four-team showdown for the three coveted postseason slots. The Braves and Mets are no strangers to high-stakes encounters; just two years ago, Atlanta swept New York in a crucial late-season series, dislodging the Mets from first place in the NL East.
Baseball fans and analysts alike have marked their calendars for Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 7:20 p.m. ET, when right-handers Luis Severino of the Mets and Spencer Schwellenbach of the Braves will take the mound to kick off the series. The midweek matchups continue to captivate with seasoned left-handers David Peterson and Chris Sale clashing on Wednesday, followed by Sean Manaea facing off against Max Fried on Thursday.
The Mets, sensing the gravity of this series, have tweaked their rotation schedule to maximize their strategic advantage, moving Jose Quintana's next start to Friday. Rookie Luisangel Acuña has been a revelation at shortstop, posting a phenomenal .409 batting average with two doubles, a triple, and three home runs since stepping in for the injured Francisco Lindor. Similarly, veteran Jose Iglesias has proven invaluable, batting .467 since taking on leadoff and second base responsibilities in light of Jeff McNeil’s wrist injury. Though Lindor remains hopeful about returning before the season ends, he admits he may not be entirely pain-free.
The outcome of this series is still riddled with implications. A sweep by the Braves won't guarantee them a wild-card spot, particularly if the Arizona Diamondbacks falter against the San Francisco Giants. Conversely, winning two of three games will secure a postseason berth for the Mets. Even with such a Mets victory, the Braves aren’t necessarily out of the race; they could still outstrip Arizona depending on the results of the season’s final games.
From the batter's box, Marcell Ozuna has been on a tear this September, showcasing a .329/.417/.425 slash line. However, the story hasn't been as rosy for Mets sluggers JD Martinez and Mark Vientos, who have both struggled this month. Yet, the arrival of Ramón Laureano and Whit Merrifield has bolstered the Braves' lineup during this crucial stretch.
Looking beyond this potentially season-defining series, the Mets are set to face the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers have already clinched the NL Central and are now driving towards a Wild Card Series bye, adding another challenging layer for the Mets. Meanwhile, the Braves remain at home for a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals, themselves embroiled in a tight wild-card race. This engagement promises to be another high-octane affair, potentially leading up to a win-or-go-home scenario in Game 162 for both Atlanta and Kansas City.
The intensity and implications of this series have not been lost on anyone connected to the game. Veteran catcher Sean Murphy encapsulated the prevailing sentiment when he said of the looming Braves-Mets series, “You knew it a couple weeks ago, right? That series is probably gonna help decide this thing.”