The Braves and Mets begin a three-game series in Atlanta with a favorable matchup for the home team. The first game of the series begins at 7:35 on Peachtree TV and Fox Sports South.
Mets Lineup:
1. Jose Reyes, SS
2. Angel Pagan, CF
3. David Wright, 3B
4. Carlos Beltran, RF
5. Ike Davis, 1B
6. Willie Harris, LF
7. Brad Emaus, 2B
8. Josh Thole, C
9. D.J. Carrasco, SP
Braves Lineup:
1. Martin Prado, LF
2. Nate McLouth, CF
3. Chipper Jones, 3B
4. Brian McCann, C
5. Dan Uggla, 2B
6. Jason Heyward, RF
7. Alex Gonzalez, SS
8. Freddie Freeman, 1B
9. Derek Lowe, SP
D.J. Carrasco (6.2 IP, 4.05 ERA, 3.23 FIP, 4.81 xFIP, 4.05 BB/9, 5.40 K/9, 42.9 GB%, 6.3 SwStr%)
(41.5 CT%, 30.2 FB%, 24.5 CB%, 3.8 CH%; 41.9 Swing%, 84.1 Contact%)
vs.
Derek Lowe (18.2 IP, 1.45 ERA, 2.97 FIP, 2.97 xFIP, 2.41 BB/9, 7.23 K/9, 59.6 GB%, 8.7 SwStr%)
(45.3 FB%, 28.6 SL%, 17.7 CH%, 8.4 CT%; 41.1 Swing%, 78.7 Contact%)
D.J. Carrasco is receiving a spot start due to Chris Young's bicep tendinitis. He has pitched all of 6.2 relief innings this year, allowing three runs on seven hits. The 34-year-old has thrown a lot of cutters in his limited amount of innings while abandoning the slider. For a reliever, Carrasco throws a wide assortment of pitches, which plays well for these spot starts.
Derek Lowe backed off some on the strikeouts in his last start, but he continued to pitch well by allowing just two runs in seven innings against the Phillies. The one knock on the start was a large amount of fly balls, but he also induced his normal amount of ground balls, and the slider remained effective.
Opposing Numbers:
Eric Hinske has destroyed D.J. Carrasco at 3-6, 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI. Unfortunately, Hinske isn't playing. Otherwise, the Braves have almost no experience against Carrasco.
David Wright is the only Mets starter with success against Derek Lowe at 10-31 with three doubles and a homer. Carlos Beltran, Willie Harris, Angel Pagan and Jose Reyes are all hitting below .250 against Lowe. Josh Thole is 4-9 with three RBI.
What to Look For:
The Braves have a favorable matchup with the Mets plucking a reliever from the bullpen for a spot start against Atlanta's hottest pitcher. It is likely that New York could go to the bullpen early, taxing it for the rest of the series.
For more on the series, Braves fans check out Talking Chop and Mets fans check out Amazin Avenue.