The New York Mets are set to face the Atlanta Braves tonight at Citi Field, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 PM. After a challenging stretch, the Mets are looking to turn things around as they continue their series against a tough Braves team. Despite recent struggles, including losing eight of their last nine games, the Mets have shown signs of offensive power, particularly with home runs. However, converting those solo shots into meaningful runs will be crucial for securing a win.
Tonight’s game offers an opportunity for the Mets to reset before the end of June. Pitching matchups, key player performances, and strategic adjustments will be pivotal in determining the outcome. Let’s dive into the details and preview what to watch for in this exciting Braves vs. Mets showdown.
Game Details: Braves vs. Mets
Date: Monday, June 23, 2025
Time: 7:10 PM
Location: Citi Field, Flushing, NY
Pitching Matchup: RHP (5-4, 3.26) vs. RHP Paul Blackburn (0-1, 6.92)
TV: SNY
Mets’ Recent Struggles and Offensive Spark
The Mets have been navigating a rough patch, losing eight of their last nine games. However, there’s a silver lining: they’ve managed to hit 10 home runs in their last three games. Unfortunately, most of these were solo home runs, highlighting the team’s struggle to capitalize on runners in scoring position. Seven of those homers occurred in a single game, a testament to their potential power surge. As they face the Braves, the Mets need to find a way to translate individual hits into productive innings and more runs.
Despite the recent slump, the Mets have shown flashes of brilliance, indicating that they have the capability to compete. The key will be consistency and strategic execution to overcome their current challenges.
Mets’ Projected Lineup
- , SS
- , LF
- , RF
- , 1B
- , 2B
- Tyrone Taylor, CF
- , DH
- , C
- , 3B
Pitching Matchup: Paul Blackburn vs. Braves
Paul Blackburn takes the mound for the Mets, aiming to improve upon his season performance. Over four games and two starts, Blackburn has accumulated 13 innings with a 6.92 ERA. His first start against the Dodgers showed promise, as he allowed no runs and only three hits over five innings. However, his subsequent outings have been more challenging, with 11 runs allowed from 15 hits.
Notably, Blackburn faced the Braves last week, where he conceded four runs (three earned) in 3 2/3 innings. The Braves’ lineup has some familiarity with Blackburn, and their historical performance against him includes:
- 1-3, HR, BB
- 3-4, 2 2B, 3B
- 0-1
- 0-2, K
- 0-4
- 1-1, BB
- 0-3, BB, K
- 0-3, K
- 2-3, BB, K
- 4-12, 2 2B
Blackburn will need to leverage his strengths and minimize mistakes against a Braves lineup that has seen him recently.
Braves’ Lineup and Schwellenbach’s Performance
- Ronald Acuña Jr., RF
- Matt Olson, 1B
- Marcell Ozuna, DH
- Austin Riley, 3B
- Ozzie Albies, 2B
- Sean Murphy, C
- Michael Harris II, CF
- , LF
- Nick Allen, SS
The Mets’ hitters will face Spencer Schwellenbach, against whom they scored four runs over seven innings last week. Schwellenbach has a 3.26 ERA over 96 2/3 innings this season. The Mets have had mixed success against him:
- Pete Alonso 4-11, 2B, BB, 2 K
- Francisco Lindor 0-9, 2 K
- 0-3
- 0-3, 2 K
- Jeff McNeil 2-6, 2B
- Brandon Nimmo 0-12, 4 K
- Juan Soto 1-2, HR, BB
- Tyrone Taylor 4-8, 2 2B, HR, 2 K
- Luis Torrens 0-2, 2 K
- Jared Young 0-3, 2 K
Three Things to Watch For
- Lindor is back! After five consecutive games without a hit, Lindor has recorded two straight multi-hit games, going 4-for-9 with a double and two home runs. However, the Mets need to capitalize when Lindor (or anyone) gets on base.
- Positive under-the-hood metrics for Paul Blackburn. Despite some poor results, Blackburn’s Statcast numbers are promising. Hitters are getting hard hits against him only 27.1% of the time, with an average exit velocity of 87.3 mph.
- Tyrone Taylor. Taylor has excellent fielding stats and a high launch angle sweet spot. Despite a .232 batting average, his expected batting average is .276. His past success against Schwellenbach makes him a player to watch.
Final Thoughts
Tonight’s game between the Braves and the Mets at Citi Field promises to be an exciting matchup. With Paul Blackburn on the mound for the Mets and Spencer Schwellenbach pitching for the Braves, both teams will look to gain an edge through strategic plays and key performances. The Mets, eager to break their recent slump, will need to capitalize on their offensive sparks and improve their ability to drive runners home. Meanwhile, the Braves will aim to continue their dominance and exploit any vulnerabilities in the Mets’ defense.
Key players to watch include Francisco Lindor, who has recently found his rhythm at the plate, and Tyrone Taylor, who has a history of success against Schwellenbach. Additionally, Paul Blackburn’s performance will be crucial, as his underlying metrics suggest potential for improvement. As the game unfolds, keep an eye on these factors, and let’s go Mets!
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