Mets vs. Braves Preview

The Mets desperately need to play well against Atlanta to keep Wild Card-hopes alive. New York looks to youngster Jonathan Niese to beat Braves’ youngster Mike Minor and get back the Mets back on track after losing 9-3 yesterday.

After striking out six through three scoreless innings last Thursday against the Marlins, Niese (8-6, 3.63 ERA) gave up five runs in the sixth to take the loss. He has never lost to the Braves in three career starts, the most recent of them a no-decision in April.

Minor (2-0, 4.00 ERA), the seventh overall pick in 2009 Draft, set a Braves rookie record with 12 strikeouts in six innings during a victory over the Cubs in Chicago on Aug. 22. He will be working on extra rest against the Mets.

With information courtesy of the Associated Press