Atlanta @ New York preview
Citi Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 7, 2012 ) Atlanta 3, NY Mets 0
The Atlanta Braves have matched a franchise record with three straight shutouts - exactly 10 years after the last time they did it - and the nearly unthinkable becomes almost expected when red-hot right-hander Kris Medlen takes the mound to try to make it four in a row Saturday against the New York Mets. The Braves won the opener of the three-game set at Citi Field on Friday, getting homers from Jason Heyward and Dan Uggla and a five-hitter from Paul Maholm and five relievers.
Medlen is 6-0 with an 0.54 ERA in seven starts since joining the rotation July 31, and he hasn't allowed an earned run in his last four outings, a span of 33 innings. His smooth transition into the rotation is a big reason the Braves remain in control of the top spot in the National League wild card race, though they are 6 1/2 games behind Washington in the NL East. After winning seven of eight, the Mets have lost three of their last four. They are 5-8 against Atlanta this season.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Kris Medlen (7-1, 1.56 ERA) vs. Mets RH Jeremy Hefner (2-5, 4.52)
Medlen continued his dominant run last time out, striking out 12 and allowing just one earned run in a complete-game five-hitter against Colorado. The last earned run Medlen surrendered came against the Mets, when he held them to one run over 6 1/3 innings in a 9-3 win Aug. 11 at Citi Field. Medlen is 1-0 with a 1.60 ERA in 13 games (three starts) against the Mets.
The 26-year-old rookie Hefner has been solid in his last two outings but doesn't have a win to show for it. He's winless since Aug. 4 despite allowing one run over eight innings Aug. 26 against Houston and giving up two runs in six innings last time out at Miami. Hefner faced Atlanta in relief Aug. 11, allowing one run on four hits in 3 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Braves have scored only two earned runs in their past four games, but have won three of them via shutouts.
2. Braves closer Craig Kimbrel likely will be unavailable after pitching in the past three games. Kimbrel is tied with Cincinnati's Aroldis Chapman for the NL lead with 35 saves.
3. Mets 2B Daniel Murphy, who is riding a nine-game hitting streak, is 1-for-8 against Medlen, and 3B David Wright is 1-for-13 against him.