Atlanta @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 28, 2011 ) Atlanta 0, NY Mets 0

THE STORY: Hurricane Irene wiped out two of the three games of a series between the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets. The teams will try to get those contests in Thursday as they face off in a doubleheader at Citi Field. Atlanta enters the day firmly in control of their own fate in the National League wild-card race.

TV: 7:40 p.m. ET, FSS, WPIX (Game 2)

PITCHING MATCHUP (GAME 2): Braves RH Julio Teheran (0-1, 5.19 ERA) vs. Mets RH Dillon Gee (12-5, 4.48 ERA)

Teheran makes his return to the majors for the first time since mid-May. While the 21-year-old phenom has been dominant in the minors, his previous big-league performances left much to be desired. Teheran has allowed five runs over 8 2/3 innings while walking four and recording just two strikeouts. This is his first encounter with the Mets.

Gee's record masks what has been a largely inconsistent season - mirrored by his last four outings. The 25-year-old tossed 12 2/3 innings of two-run, 11-hit ball in wins over Florida and San Diego, and surrendered 14 runs over just 8 2/3 frames against Philadelphia and Washington. Gee is 2-1 with a 2.83 ERA in five career starts against Atlanta.

ABOUT THE BRAVES (82-60): Atlanta hasn't played well in recent days, coming off a sweep at the hands of the powerhouse Philadelphia Phillies. Fortunately, the Braves had built a nearly insurmountable lead in the wild-card race heading into the series, and still find themselves 6 1/2 games clear of second-place St. Louis as the season enters its final three-week stretch. One feather Atlanta would like to add to its cap is a win in the season series over the rival Mets. New York leads 7-6, taking the lead with a 6-0 victory the last time these teams met Aug. 26. The rest of that series was wiped out by Irene.

ABOUT THE METS (70-71): New York has looked strong as it plays out the string, having won three of its last four and coming off a series win in Florida. The Mets recorded just their second shutout in the past two months in Wednesday's 1-0 triumph over the Marlins in what will be New York's final game will play at Sun Life Stadium. The Mets depart Florida's current - and soon-to-be-former - home park with a 75-74 mark all-time. As it was when these games were first postponed, weather could be a factor. Rain is in the forecast, with a chance of thunderstorms persisting into the evening.

FINAL PITCH: Atlanta and St. Louis do battle in a three-game series beginning Friday.