By Justin Gray
The Atlanta Braves are set to host the National League East-leading New York Mets tonight as they begin a 13-game stretch against division foes.
The Braves once again are coming off of one of their worst losses of the season, coming at the hands of the Colorado Rockies, 10-1.
Yes, it’s just one loss, but to consider the Rockies have won 14 games this season and two of them have been against Atlanta is as bad as it gets.
They currently sit with a 31-39 record and 13 games back of the Mets.
Tonight will be the first time New York and Atlanta have squared off this season and it is set to be a doozy.
The Braves know how big of a stretch they have coming up and in response, they've chosen to jump-start it with Spencer Schwellenbach, Chris Sale, and Spencer Strider taking the mound in the three games against the Mets.
Of course, the offense is going to have to show up at some point, pitching has been too good all year for the Braves to have the record they do through 70 games.
After the series with New York, the Braves will head down to Miami for a three-game and then up to New York for four more with the Mets.
Finally, they will wrap up the division stretch with Philadelphia at home for three games.
Why is this stretch so big?
It’s not because you have a chance to win the division, but you are going to take on some really good teams and if you don’t play well, we could be looking back in two weeks and the Braves postseason chances could be over.
At this current moment, the Braves will have to go 59-33 to reach 90 wins and that feels like the benchmark to make the Wild Card in the National League.
This team is certainly capable of doing that, but any bump in the road will really limit the chances for the Braves to be playing in October.
The Braves have played better since the seven-game losing streak as they’ve won their last two series and a big reason why is the guy in the leadoff spot, Ronald Acuña Jr.
Since his return, he is batting .390 with seven home runs and 13 runs batted in, all that in just 21 games.
As good as he has been, the Braves are going to need more out of the middle of the order from Austin Riley, Marcell Ozuna, and Matt Olson.
Tonight’s game against the Mets will begin at 7:15 and you can listen right here on The ROAR.
