Mets at Braves
The Atlanta Braves enter Friday’s home contest against the New York Mets after a 6-3 loss in Thursday’s series opener, just their second defeat in the past nine games, but the day also produced a long-term win for the franchise. Nine days after locking up star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. to an eight-year contract extension, Atlanta inked second baseman Ozzie Albies to a seven-year deal, keeping the All-Star with the Braves through at least 2026.
Albies finished 0-for-5 in the series opener but is off to a solid start in his second full big-league season, hitting .327 with an .838 OPS and manning the leadoff spot against left-handed starters. But it was an opposing infielder who stood out Thursday, as New York shortstop Amed Rosario drove in a career-high four runs - belting a three-run homer in the second and adding an RBI single in the sixth. Rosario, who hit .302 in his final 48 games a season ago, is 6-for-15 in his past four games and is hitting .283 on the season with four extra-base hits and 10 RBIs in 46 at-bats. Rookie first baseman Pete Alonso, who came into Thursday tied for second in the National League in RBIs and tied for third in homers, slugged his sixth longball of the season in the seventh and finished with two RBIs - giving him 17 in 12 games.
TV: 7:20 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SNY (New York), FS South (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Zack Wheeler (0-1, 10.24 ERA) vs. Braves RH Kyle Wright (0-1, 4.35)
Wheeler faced Washington in his first two starts and struggled in both, giving up four runs on six hits in five innings on March 31 before walking seven hitters while allowing seven runs over 4 2/3 innings Sunday. The 28-year-old has walked eight hitters over 9 2/3 innings so far, after issuing only 55 walks in 182 1/3 innings en route to a 12-7 record and 3.31 ERA a season ago. Wheeler went 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA and 1.26 WHIP against the Braves in 2018, and in 10 career starts is 5-3 with a 3.21 ERA.
Wright struggled in cold conditions in his first start of the season in Philadelphia, but pitched much better last Saturday at home against Miami, giving up two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and one walk over six innings. The 23-year-old had walked five while allowing three runs in his season debut, but threw 46 of his 77 pitches for strikes Saturday while allowing a pair of solo homers. Wright surrendered two runs in one inning of relief against the Mets as a rookie last season.
WALK-OFFS
1. New York 2B Robinson Cano finished 0-for-5 in the series opener, and is 3-for-21 with five strikeouts in his past six games to drop his average to .180.
2. Acuna slammed a 462-foot homer in the eighth Thursday, finishing a double shy of the cycle, and is 7-for-11 with five runs scored and five RBIs in his last three games.
3. New York RHP Edwin Diaz struck out two in a scoreless ninth, earning his fifth save in five chances.