Atlanta @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 12, 2012 ) Atlanta 5, NY Mets 6

Atlanta begins a six-game road trip hoping its offense will come to life. It would be difficult for the Braves’ bats to be more lifeless than they were in a four-game series against Colorado this week. Somehow, Atlanta won three of four despite not scoring an earned run in the final three games, and plating just two runs in the final 32 innings of the series. New York lost two of three at St. Louis, ending a nine-game road trip at 6-3.

The Mets play 16 of their final 25 games at Citi Field. Jon Niese starts the opener for New York, which trails Philadelphia by one game for third place in the NL East. The Braves have dropped 7 1/2 games behind division leader Washington, but hold a 3 1/2-game advantage on St. Louis for the top NL wild-card slot. Paul Maholm makes his seventh start for Atlanta since being acquired from the Cubs.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Peachtree TV (Atlanta), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Paul Maholm (11-9, 3.79 ERA) vs. Mets LH Jon Niese (10-8, 3.55)

Maholm and the Braves would take a repeat of the left-hander’s last appearance at Citi Field. Maholm fired a three-hit shutout against the Mets on Aug. 10. He is 1-2 in four starts since, including a dreadful two-inning outing Sunday against Philadelphia in which he allowed seven runs on six hits with three walks.

Like Maholm, Niese’s last start against the Braves was stellar. He allowed one run on six hits in eight innings to get the victory Aug. 12. The left-hander has lost his past two starts. Niese allowed three runs on nine hits in six innings in a 3-2 loss to Philadelphia back on Aug. 30.

WALK-OFFS

1. Retiring Atlanta 3B Chipper Jones begins his final series in New York, where Mets’ fans have serenaded him with his real first name – Larry – for years. Jones has hit .316 with 49 homers in his career against New York.

2. Niese has posted a 3.23 ERA since the All-Star break.

3. The Braves went 3-for-35 with runners in scoring position in the four games against Colorado.