Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the MLB match.
Just three days after their last encounter, the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves meet again — this time at Citi Field. The Braves swept the previous series 3:0, and even on the road, they remain favourites.
New York Mets
The main concern is the ongoing poor form of the New York Mets. They have relinquished their position at the top of the National League East, losing eight of their last nine matchups. Across that stretch, they have a run differential of 28:62, and a batting average of just 21.8% — clear indicators of a team in trouble. The coaching staff is responding: 23-year-old catcher Francisco Alvarez has been optioned to the minors after posting just three hits in his last 18 at-bats (16.6%) over five games.
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves face a crucial week, with two key divisional matchups — first against the New York Mets, followed by a series against division leaders the Philadelphia Phillies. The squad is in solid form, having won eight of their last 12 games while scoring an average of five runs per game — a notable improvement from their season average of 4.2. Much of this momentum is down to the return of Ronald Acuña Jr., who has driven in 15 runs over 27 games and currently leads the team in both batting average (39.6%) and on-base percentage (50.4%).
New York Mets vs Atlanta Braves Prediction
The New York Mets are struggling on both sides of the ball. With the Atlanta Braves showing renewed purpose and chasing a divisional lead, they are well placed to take advantage of their opponent’s slump. Backing the favourites to take the win.
