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 late last month. 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: 4:10 p.m. ET, SPSO (Game 1)

PITCHING MATCHUP (GAME 1): Braves LH Mike Minor (4-2, 4.09 ERA) vs. Mets RH Chris Schwinden (NR)

Minor has been on a role since returning from a stint in the minors. The 23-year-old is 4-0 over his last six starts, and limited the Dodgers to a run on six hits over six innings in a 2-1 defeat in his last outing. Minor has struggled against the Mets over the course of his brief career, posting an ugly 6.60 ERA over three starts.

Schwinden was recalled by the Mets from Triple-A Buffalo and will be making his major-league debut. The 24-year-old righty had a decent season in the minors, going 8-8 with a 3.95 ERA and 134 strikeouts in 145 2/3 innings. Schwinden is expected to get a few starts down the stretch as he auditions for a role in next season's rotation.

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.