MLB Standings: Braves Well Ahead In Wild Card Race

If the season ended today, the Atlanta Braves would be safely in the playoffs as the first wild card in the NL.

Of course, as Braves fans well know from their spectacular September collapse in 2011, the season doesn't end for a few more weeks.

For now, Atlanta is in excellent shape at 81-60. With the Washington Nationals at 86-54, the NL East crown is probably out of the question, but the St. Louis Cardinals (at 75-65) are the nearest challenger to Atlanta in the wild card race.

But with the addition of the second wild card, the wild card is no longer the prize it once was. All Atlanta will get for being the first wild card is the chance to host a one-game playoff before the start of the divisional series.

The Cardinals are currently 1 game ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates and 2.5 games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the race to see who would play the Braves in the play-in game.

For more coverage of the Braves, stay tuned to Talking Chop and SB Nation Atlanta.

Braves vs. Mets Score: Brian McCann Leads Atlanta To 3-2 Win

The Braves are going to need contributions from everyone in their lineup if they hope to make a run in October. As we all remembered this weekend, Dan Uggla and Brian McCann can carry an offense for days at a time when they are going right.

Sunday afternoon was McCann's time to shine. Mac drove home two of the Braves' three runs to lead the club to a 3-2 victory over the Mets.

Tommy Hanson, who is essentially the team's fifth starter these days, worked 5.2 innings of two-run ball. He surrendered just four hits and a walk, striking out five with his big curveball. Chris Young was equally effective for New York, tossing six innings of two-run ball.

The Mets struck first with an RBI-single from Ike Davis in the fourth inning. The Braves battled right back though, tying the game at 1-1 in the fifth with a Michael Bourn single that plated Jose Constanza.

In the top of the sixth, McCann hit a deep home run to right-center field to give Atlanta a 2-1 lead. That lead lasted all of a few minutes; with a runner on second and two outs, David Wright doubled down the left field line to tie the game once again.

The score remained 2-2 until the 10th inning. With the bases loaded and one out, McCann smoked a ball to the warning track in right field. Scott Hairston made a nice play to haul the ball in, but it was deep enough to bring home the go-ahead run.

Peter Moylan came on for the save in the bottom half of the frame. Craig Kimbrel had previously worked the ninth due to the heart of the Mets order being up. Moylan surrendered an infield single and walk, but he forced Wright to pop out for the final out of the game.

Atlanta will now head to Milwaukee for a three-game series with the red-hot Brewers.

Ben Sheets Injury: Braves Righty To Pitch Simulated Game Monday

Braves right-hander Ben Sheets will throw several simulated innings Monday in Milwaukee, though Atlanta does not plan on returning him to the rotation soon, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's David O'Brien says.

Sheets won each of his first three starts with the Braves and looked dominant doing so, posting a 0.50 ERA over that span. The veteran righty never quite looked the same in his next five starts en route to a 1-4 record with a 5.34 ERA.

Sheets' fastball command was lacking, and the hammer curveball which struck so many batters out before turned eminently hittable. Atlanta finally disabled Sheets on Aug. 25 with shoulder inflammation, and he received a cortisone shot recently to help reduce swelling.

Injuries come as no surprise for Sheets. He had been out of Major League Baseball since 2010 thanks to elbow surgery until the Braves signed him July 1 after he worked out for the team at Georgia Tech.

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Braves Vs. Mets Lineups: Chipper Jones Gets Day Off On Sunday

The Braves go for a three-game sweep of the New York Mets at Citi Field on Sunday. Chipper Jones is out of Sunday's lineup with Juan Francisco taking over at third base. Brian McCann is coming off one of his best days of the season on Saturday and is back in the lineup and hitting sixth on Sunday. Dan Uggla's recent production at the plate has him penciled in at second base and batting fifth.

Here is a look at the starting lineups for today's series finale between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets:

Atlanta Braves

1. Michael Bourn (L) CF
2. Martin Prado (R) SS
3. Jason Heyward (L) RF
4. Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
5. Dan Uggla (R) 2B
6. Brian McCann (L) C
7. Juan Francisco (L) 3B
8. Jose Constanza (L) LF
9. Tommy Hanson (R) P

New York Mets

1. Mike Baxter RF
2. Daniel Murphy 2B
3. David Wright 3B
4. Ike Davis 1B
5. Lucas Duda LF
6. Justin Turner SS
7. Andres Torres CF
8. Josh Thole C
9. Chris Young P

For more on the Braves, visit our blog Talking Chop and SB Nation Atlanta. For your Mets coverage, head over to Amazin Avenue and SB Nation New York. Baseball Nationis your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball.

Braves Vs. Mets Time, TV, Radio Info And More

The Braves are going for a series sweep on Sunday against the Mets and their fifth win of the year while visiting Citi Field. Atlanta shut out New York in the first game of the series on Friday, then had a big day at the plate on Saturday.

Tommy Hanson (12-8, 4.40 ERA) will take the mound for the Braves, while Chris Young (4-7, 4.48 ERA) gets the start for the Mets. In Hanson's last appearance against the Mets, he gave up six earned runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings of work.

Here is the game schedule and broadcast information for Sunday's game:

Date/Time: Sunday, Sept. 9, 1:10 p.m. ET

TV: FSS, SNY

Online streaming: MLB.tv

For more on the Braves, visit our blog Talking Chop and SB Nation Atlanta. For your Mets coverage, head over to Amazin Avenue and SB Nation New York. Baseball Nation is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball.

Braves Vs. Mets Final Score: Brian McCann, Dan Uggla Power Atlanta To 11-3 Win

Brian McCann and Dan Uggla came to life on Saturday and the result was an 11-3 win for the Atlanta Braves over the New York Mets.

McCann recorded his first extra base hit in over a month while going 4 for 5 with a double and a homer while driving in four runs. Uggla went perfect at the plate going 3 for 3 with two walks. Uggla responded with his second straight solid performance after losing his everyday starting job last week.

Kris Medlan picked up his eighth win of the season allowing two runs and four hits over six innings of work. Mets starter Jeremy Hefner was battered by Atlanta for five runs and eight hits in just two and 2/3 innings of work.

The game was delayed an hour and 15 minutes by rain in the top of the seventh inning. The two teams will wrap up their three-game series on Sunday.

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Braves Vs. Mets Score: Rain Halts Play With Atlanta Leading 8-2

Heavy rains in New York might be forcing the Braves to take home an early win as they lead the New York Mets going into the bottom of the 7th inning 8-2.

Baseball rules state that the game can be called an official game and won't have to be made up if either team is ahead and the game has completed the bottom half of the 5th inning.

Kris Medlen pitched six strong innings, giving up two earned runs and striking out three. Brian McCann had a strong day at the plate, hitting his 19th home run and ending up a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. McCann has four RBIs for the first time since July 6 in a game against the Phillies.

The Braves jumped out to an early lead, running Jeremy Hefner out of the game by the third inning after garnering eight hits and five runs against him.

For more on the Braves, head over to our blog Talking Chop and SBNation Atlanta. Baseball Nation is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball.

Andrelton Simmons Injury Update: Fredi Gonzalez Says Shortstop Will Join Team Monday In Milwaukee

Atlanta Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons will rejoin the team in Milwaukee on Monday for their series with the Brewers, according to manager Fredi Gonzalez, via the Braves official Twitter account.

Simmons had been on a rehab assignment with the Class-A Lynchburg Hillcats. He hit a home run Friday in the Hillcats' 2-1 playoff victory.

Simmons has been out of action for the Braves since suffering a broken hand in a July 8 game against the Philadelphia Phillies. He sustained the injury sliding head first into second base, and has missed about eight weeks of games.

Simmons was called up from Double-A Mississippi on June 2. In 125 plate appearances before sustaining the injury, he batted .296/.336/.452. Atlanta's record stood at 46-39 when Simmons was injured, and they have gone 33-21 in his absence.

Paul Janish has filled in at shortstop for the Braves for the most part with Simmons out, though super-utility man Martin Prado has played there occasionally as well. Simmons' return should provide a boost to Atlanta defensively, as that is a large part of the rookie's value.

For more on the Braves, head over to our blog Talking Chop and SBNation Atlanta. Baseball Nation is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball.

Braves Vs. Mets Lineups: Kris Medlen Looks To Continue Atlanta's Shutout Steak

The Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets will continue their three-game weekend series this afternoon at Citi Field. The Braves took the first game of the series on Friday behind a strong pitching effort from Paul Maholm, who along with five relief pitchers combined for Atlanta's third straight shutout. The Braves are now 6.5 games back of the first place Washington Nationals, and are in the lead for the first National League Wildcard spot.

Both teams have released their lineups for Saturday afternoon. First, the home Mets:

1. Mike Baxter (L) RF

2. Daniel Murphy (L) 2B

3. David Wright (R) 3B

4. Ike Davis (L) 1B

5. Lucas Duda (L) LF

6. Ruben Tejada (R) SS

7. Jordany Valdespin (L) CF

8. Josh Thole (L) C

9. Jeremy Hefner (R) P

And for the visiting Braves:

1. Michael Bourn (L) CF

2. Martin Prado (R) SS

3. Jason Heyward (L) RF

4. Chipper Jones (S) 3B

5. Freddie Freeman (L) 1B

6. Dan Uggla (R) 2B

7. Brian McCann (L) C

8. Jose Constanza (L) LF

9. Kris Medlen (S) P

First pitch will be at 4:05 p.m. ET.

For more on the Braves, visit our blog Talking Chop and SBNation Atlanta. For your Mets coverage, head over to Amazin Avenue and SBNation New York. Baseball Nation is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball.

Andrelton Simmons Injury: Simmons Hits Home Run In Rehab Game

Atlanta Braves rookie shortstop Andrelton Simmons continued his rehab assignment Friday for the Class-A Lynchburg Hillcats, hitting a solo home run in the Hillcats' 2-1 playoff win.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's David O'Brien, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez was unsure if Simmons would stay with the Hillcats through their playoff run or if he would rejoin the Braves this weekend during their series in Queens against the New York Mets.

Simmons broke his hand in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 8 on a head-first slide into second base. He's missed about eight weeks of action.

Simmons was called up straight from Double-A Mississippi and inserted immediately as the Braves' regular shortstop on June 2 amid Tyler Pastnoricky's struggles. Simmons batted .296/.336/.452 in 125 plate appearances before the injury.

Much of Simmons' value, unlike Pastornicky, comes from his defense. Many already consider the 23-year-old an elite defender at shortstop. From ESPN's SweetSpot Blog on Simmons, a testimonial:

"Excellent reads, footwork, instincts, controlled aggression, and a quick compact arm. He made all the plays for me -- to the left, to the right, on the backhand, in the hole, topped. He's an excellent athlete with great body control."
--An NL scout who saw Simmons four times this month

Paul Janish has taken most of the responsibility at shortstop in Simmons' absence.

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Braves Vs. Mets: Kris Medlen Looks To Extend Scoreless Streak

The Atlanta Braves haven't given up a run in 28.1 innings, and they send white-hot right-hander Kris Medlen to the mound Saturday to try to extend that streak against the New York Mets.

The Braves' pitching staff has been spectacular over the past 28.1-innings. Since Chad Durbin gave up an unearned run on a D.J. LeMahieu single with two out in the eighth inning Tuesday against the Colorado Rockies, Atlanta's staff hasn't blinked. Opposing base-runners have only reached third base four times during the scoreless streak.

The Mets will try to break it up against Medlen, August's National League Pitcher of the Month who will start against New York for the second time this season. The first time around, on Aug. 11, Medlen pithced 6.1 innings and gave up one earned run on five hits with seven strikeouts. The Braves won that game 9-3.

Rookie Jeremy Hefner will make his 10th start for the Mets. He gave up six hits and two runs in his last start Sept. 1 against the Miami Marlins.

Date/Time: Saturday, Sept. 8, 4:05 p.m. ET

Location: Citi Field, New York, N.Y.

TV: Fox

Read more on the Braves at Talking Chop and SB Nation Atlanta. Head over to Amazin' Avenue and SB Nation New York or more on the Mets. Baseball Nation is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball.

Braves vs. Mets Score: Heyward, Uggla Homer In 3-0 Victory

The Atlanta Braves continued their winning ways on Friday night against the Mets, winning their third-straight game in shutout fashion by a score of 3-0. The club has not allowed a run to score in upwards of 28 innings now.

Paul Maholm made the start for the Braves and worked 5.1 innings. He scattered five hits and three walks, striking out six in the process. He is now 12-9 on the season with a 3.67 ERA.

Jason Heyward hit a solo homer in the fourth inning to give Atlanta a 1-0 lead. After smacking a double down the left field line in the seventh, Dan Uggla came around to score on a throwing error and then a sacrifice fly off the bat of David Ross. Uggla hit a solo homer in the top of the ninth to give the Braves a key insurance run as the lead moved to 3-0.

Craig Kimbrel entered the ninth and recorded his third save in as many days, striking out two batters as he worked around a leadoff walk.

The Braves and Mets will meet again on Saturday afternoon at 4:05 p.m. ET.

The Mets Gave Chipper Jones Something Pretty Cool

Braves Vs. Mets: Paul Maholm Faces New York For First Time Since Shutout

The Atlanta Braves open a three-game series in Queens on Friday against the New York Mets. The Braves send left-hander Paul Maholm to the mound. Maholm was brilliant in his last outing against the Mets, throwing a three-hit shutout on Aug. 10. The Braves won that game, 4-0.

Jon Niese was great in his last outing against the Braves on Aug. 12. He pitched eight innings of six-hit, one-run ball in a game the Mets held on to win, 6-5.

For the Braves:

1. CF Michael Bourn (L)

2. LF Reed Johnson (R)

3. 3B Chipper Jones (S)

4. 1B Freddie Freeman (L)

5. SS Martin Prado (R)

6. RF Jason Heyward (L)

7. 2B Dan Uggla (R)

8. C David Ross (R)

9. P Paul Maholm (L)

For the Mets:

1. SS Ronny Cedeno (R)

2. 2B Daniel Murphy (L)

3. 3B David Wright (R)

4. RF Scott Hairston (R)

5. 1B Ike Davis (L)

6. C Kelly Shoppach (R)

7. LF Jason Bay (R)

8. CF Andres Torres (S)

9. P Jon Niese (L)

First pitch at Citi Field is at 7:10 p.m. ET. The game is Friday's MLB.tv free game of the day and can be streamed at MLB.tv.

Read more on the Braves at Talking Chop and SB Nation Atlanta. Head over to Amazin' Avenue and SB Nation New York or more on the Mets. Baseball Nation is your source for news and analysis around Major League Baseball.

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