Braves 3 Mets 0 (Truist Park, Atlanta, GA)
Mets record: 89-73
Mets streak: Lost 1
WP - Joey Lucchesi (0-2)
LP - Daysbel Hernandez (3-0)
SV - Raisel Iglesias (34)
Seat on the Korner:
We select the star of the game and virtually invite him to a Seat on the Korner, just as Ralph Kiner used to do for his studio postgame show on WOR-channel 9 broadcasts in the early decades of the Mets.
Today's seat on the Korner goes to Joey Lucchesi, who gave the Mets exactly what they needed: Enough innings to keep the team from using any of the pitchers expected to play a crucial role in the playoffs. Recalled from Syracuse for the occasion, Lucchesi -- even without his best pitch, his "churve," working -- gave the Mets six strong innings. He allowed only three hits and one run among the 111 pitches he threw. Lucchesi played himself out of a roster spot in spring training and was unimpressive at Syracuse, but when push came to shove, he rose to the occasion and made it uncomfortable for the desperate Braves.
Need to Know
With the win, the Braves take the season series against the Mets and the second Wild Card spot. Their reward: facing the Padres in San Diego. The Mets get to fly back to Milwaukee to play the Brewers; first game, Tuesday as 5:30.
With the playoff berth clinched, the Mets chose to save Luis Severino to start the first playoff game and sent Joey Lucchesi (remember him?) to the mound. To make room for Lucchesi, whom the Mets DFA'd earlier in the year, the Mets moved Christian Scott to the 60-day IL (opening a spot on the 40-man roster) and optioned Alex Young to Syracuse.
Huascar Brazoban and Adam Ottavino became the first Mets pitchers to appear in both games of a doubleheader since Brooks Raley on May 23 of last year against Cleveland. Both are unlikely to be used in high leverage siutations in the playoffs, so their unavailabilty for Tuesday's game is no great loss.
The last time the Mets played a doubleheader on the final day of the regular season was in 1983 at home vs. Montreal.
Pete Alonso became only the third Mets player to appear in every regular season game, joining Félix Millán (1975) and John Olerud (1999). It was the third time he has appeared in 160 or more games.
With an infield single in the ninth, Jose Iglesias extended his current hitting streak to 22 . It is the longest hitting streak of his career and it is the longest streak by a Mets player this year. The last time a Mets player had a longer streak was Wilson Ramos, when he recorded a 26-game hitting streak from August 3-September 3, 2019.
Turning Point
In a game the Mets played as if they were merely going through the motions, it was still 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh with two out when Ozzie Albies hit a slow grounder that Mets reliever Huascar Brazoban fielded cleanly but then threw wildly to first, with Albies ending up on second and Sean Murphy, who had walked, ending up on third (it was scored a single and an error). Marcel Ozuna broke an 0-17 skid with a single to left that scored Murphy and Albies, essentially claiming the game for the Braves
Three Keys
Braves Bullpen Comes Up Big
Chris Sale had long been expected to get the start if it was a must-win for the Braves, but he was scratched with back spasms. Instead, Grant Holmes -- primarily a reliever, but someone who had made seven starts this year -- took the ball and pitched four perfect innings before giving up a walk and a hit in the fifth. He was replaced, in order, by Daysbel Hernandez, starter Reynaldo Lopez (an indication of the Braves' must-win situation) and closer Raisel Iglesias, who was ineffective in the first game of the doubleheader but who came back to save this one. Of course, that leaves the Braves with big question marks to start the playoffs, especially if Sale remains unvailable and Iglesias needs a day off.
Rest for Those Who Could Use It
Manager Carlos Mendoza rested first-game hero Francisco Lindor, catcher Francisco Alvarez, both with bad backs, and Mark Vientos and JD Martinez, both with bad slumps. Luisangel Acuna and Frankie Alvarez (in his last game of the year for the Mets; he won't be on the playoff roster) started as shortstop and second base, respectively, and then traded places halfway through the game. The only position player who did not make it into either game was Jesse Winker, also in the midst of a slump. With the exception of Tyrone Taylor, who made some nice defensive plays, the rest of the team appeared to be playing in a lower gear.
Looking Ahead
With the second game essentially meaningless, the Mets were able to rest Luis Severino, which means they will be able to send three starters against the Brewers with full rest: Severino, followed by Sean Manaea and then Jose Quintana. The bullpen is another story. Assumedly, Edwin Diaz, who threw more than 60 pitches over two days, and Phil Maton, who pitched on three consecutive day, will be unavailable Tuessday, as will Huascar Brazoban and Adam Ottavino (no great loss). The places greater emphasis on the starters trying to make it into the seventh and on Jose Butto and Reed Garret and Ryan Stanek. The last two have not necessarily been in manager Carlos Mendoza's circle of trust recently.
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