Mets, Braves face off in doubleheader with playoff implications

ATLANTA — What better way to fill the National League’s final two Wild Card spots than by having division rivals square off in a season-ending doubleheader.

The Mets and Braves will both enter Monday’s doubleheader at Truist Park needing just one win to secure one of the two available Wild Card entries. Both clubs would gain a spot with a split. But the D-backs would get in if either team is swept.

“We’re going to have to grind through the whole thing,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “We’re going to have to take it to the very end, literally.”

This doubleheader was necessitated when inclement weather forced the postponement of the final two games of the Mets-Braves series in Atlanta last week.

The Mets traveled from Atlanta to Milwaukee on Thursday and returned to Georgia late Sunday. There is a chance they will return to Milwaukee on Monday night to begin the Wild Card Series.

When are the games and how can I watch?

The single-admission doubleheader will start at 1:10 p.m. ET on Monday. The second game will begin approximately 40 minutes after the conclusion of the first.

The games will be televised nationally on ESPN2. SNY and Bally Sports South will provide local feeds for both games.

One or more postseason berths. If the Mets and Braves split the doubleheader, they’ll both qualify for the playoffs. (The Braves would get the No. 5 seed and play the Padres in that scenario, while the Mets would secure the No. 6 seed and play the Brewers.)

If either team sweeps the doubleheader, that club would earn the No. 5 seed and play the Padres, while the Diamondbacks would get the No. 6 seed and play the Brewers. The team that was swept would be eliminated.

What happened when these two teams met earlier this season?

The Braves are leading the season series, 6-5, thanks to their win last Tuesday. Atlanta has won three in a row against the Mets and only needs one more victory to clinch the season series.

Why does winning the head-to-head season series matter?

When MLB expanded the postseason to its current format in 2022, it also eliminated Game 163 tiebreakers. As such, holding a head-to-head tiebreaker can make the difference between playing into October and falling one game short.

How do the rotations line up for this doubleheader?

The Mets will start Tylor Megill for Game 1, according to a source. That strategy allows them to strategically deploy one of their best pitchers, Luis Severino. If the Mets lose Game 1 and need to win Game 2 to advance to the postseason, they’ll start Severino in that one. If they win Game 1, they’ll save Severino for Game 1 of the Wild Card Series.

The Braves will start Spencer Schwellenbach in the first game and Chris Sale, if necessary, in the second game. Schwellenbach has allowed one run over 14 innings against the Mets this year. He’s also produced a 1.79 ERA in seven starts against NL playoff contenders.

Sale, who will start only if the Braves lose Game 1, needs four strikeouts and to keep his ERA under Tarik Skubal’s 2.39 mark to become the first pitcher to win MLB’s Triple Crown since Johan Santana in 2007. But the veteran would much rather be kept available to start Game 1 of the Wild Card Series.

What’s the recent history between these two teams at Truist Park?

Back in April, the Mets won two of three in Atlanta. They lost their lone game there last Tuesday.

Of course, the most relevant narrative arc points to September 2022, when the Mets entered Truist Park needing only one win to effectively clinch the NL East. Instead, the Braves swept them in a three-game series to retake control of the division and send the Mets spiraling.

This time, each team needs to win only one game. And whoever wins Game 1 won’t need to try particularly hard in Game 2, outside of the obvious incentive of knocking out a rival.

Are there any injuries of note?

Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor struggled a bit upon returning from a lower-back injury that sidelined him for much of September, but Lindor busted out with a big game on Sunday, going 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk, two RBIs, two runs scored and two stolen bases. While it’s possible the Mets use Lindor at DH for one of the two games, he said he’s prepared to play 18 innings at shortstop, if necessary.

Catcher Francisco Alvarez had a tough weekend, exiting Friday’s game in Milwaukee due to back spasms and leaving early on Sunday because of a right hamstring cramp. But Alvarez said he expects to be back at 100 percent for Game 1 of the doubleheader.

Finally, starting pitcher Kodai Senga has missed all but one game this season due to shoulder, triceps and calf injuries. The Mets had initially hoped he might return for the final week of the regular season, but that won’t happen. He could be an option for the playoffs if the Mets qualify.

Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies has gone 4-for-31 with one home run since returning from a left wrist fracture that sidelined him for two months. Albies is exclusively batting right-handed because he still feels discomfort when swinging from the left side.

How fresh is each bullpen?

Despite a 5-0 lead over the Brewers on Sunday, the Mets used their two most-trusted relievers, Edwin Díaz and Phil Maton, for the final two innings. Maton has recorded eight outs over the past two days and could be limited Monday as a result, though he’s likely to be available for at least an inning. Díaz, meanwhile, had six days of rest between outings and said he’s available for both halves of the doubleheader if needed.

“If I have to, yeah, because tomorrow is the biggest game of our season,” Díaz said. “So I’ve got to be ready, no matter what.”

Every other Mets reliever will be working on at least a full day of rest.

The Braves didn’t use any of their top relievers during Sunday’s loss to the Royals. Closer Raisel Iglesias recorded a one-pitch save on Friday and needed 15 pitches to complete a perfect inning in Saturday night’s win. Top setup men, Joe Jiménez and Pierce Johnson, were both used just once during this weekend’s series against Kansas City.

Anything else fans should know?

Mets designated hitter J.D. Martinez busted out of a career-worst 0-for-36 slump with a 2-for-5 day on Sunday. It’s not certain he’ll be in the Game 1 lineup against Schwellenbach, but if the Mets face Sale in Game 2, Martinez will be in there. And he should be an option off the bench in the matinee.