Game Chat: Braves vs Mets, 7:15 PM

Thursday, June 19, 2025 • 7:15 PM
Truist Park • Atlanta, GA
RHP Clay Holmes (7-3, 2.87 ERA) vs. RHP Spencer Strider (1-5, 4.35 ERA)
SNY • MLBN

It’s been a tough week for the Mets. The Braves beat the Mets 5-0 and have a chance to sweep the Mets tonight in Atlanta. For the Mets, it would be the second consecutive series being swept. Wednesday night was a night to forget for the Mets, who only squeaked out five hits and a walk. They went 0-for-1 with runners in scoring position. The Mets just need one good game to get the offense roaring again.

Mets Lineup

1. Francisco Lindor – SS
2. Brandon Nimmo – LF
3. Juan Soto – RF
4. Pete Alonso – 1B
5. Starling Marte – DH
6. Jeff McNeil – 2B
7. Tyrone Taylor – CF
8. Francisco Alvarez – C
9. Ronny Mauricio – 3B

Clay Holmes looks to play the role of stopper tonight. Over 14 starts this season, Holmes has pitched 78 1/3 innings with a 2.87 ERA, 3.93 FIP, 1.174 WHIP, and a 132 ERA+. Over his last two starts, he has allowed two runs on 12 hits and two walks over 11 innings. Both runs were scored on solo home runs, which has been the only weakness in his game as of late. All nine home runs he’s allowed this season have happened since May 9th. The Braves have the following career numbers against him:

• Ronald Acuña Jr. 0-1, BB
• Ozzie Albies 1-2, 2B, BB
• Stuart Fairchild 0-1, 2 BB
• Michael Harris II 0-1
• Sean Murphy 0-2, 2 K
• Marcell Ozuna 0-2, BB, K
• Austin Riley 0-3, K
• Alex Verdugo 3-6, 3 BB, K

Opposing Lineup

1. Ronald Acuña Jr. – RF
2. Alex Verdugo – LF
3. Austin Riley – 3B
4. Matt Olson – 1B
5. Marcell Ozuna – DH
6. Drake Baldwin – C
7. Ozzie Albies – 2B
8. Michael Harris II – CF
9. Nick Allen – SS

Spencer Strider has mostly had a rough return from injury. Over 31 innings, he has a 4.35 ERA, 4.32 FIP, 1.161 WHIP, and a 94 ERA+ while striking out 37 batters. That being said, he’s coming off a classic Strider start where he held the Rockies scoreless over six innings, scattering three hits while striking out 13. It was by far his best start of the season. His previous best start was 4 2/3 innings against the Phillies, allowing one run from one hit and four walks while striking out seven. The Mets have the following career numbers against Strider:

• Pete Alonso 2-12, 2B, HR, 2 BB, 7 K
• Francisco Alvarez 1-5, HR, BB, 3 K
• Brett Baty 2-4, K
• Francisco Lindor 6-16, 3B, 2 BB, 2 K
• Starling Marte 2-7, 2 BB, 3 K
• Jeff McNeil 3-13, 2B, 2 K
• Brandon Nimmo 8-16, 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 3 BB, 2 K
• Juan Soto 2-7, 3 BB

Game Notes

• Frankie Montas gave up five runs over five innings in his final rehab start in Syracuse on Wednesday. In 18 2/3 innings, Montas posted an unsightly 13.19 ERA and gave up eight home runs.
• The Mets announced today that Justin Hagenman has been recalled to pitch Friday’s game in Philadelphia. New York may use an opener to start the game before having Hagenman work as the bulk guy. Additionally, the team has recalled Dedniel Núñez from Triple-A Syracuse, optioned Ty Adcock, and placed Max Kranick on the injured list with an elbow strain.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Spencer Strider’s Slider. Strider has a devastating slider, but it has been widely reported that it’s just not the same since his surgery. Right now it’s an average 83.8 mph, before the injury it was 85-86 mph. So far, he’s using it around the same amount that he used to (about a third of the time). Will he eventually need to change his pitch mix? For tonight, the Mets need to see how it moves, and hopefully they can take advantage of a slightly slower slider.
2. Brandon Nimmo. Nimmo has fantastic numbers against Spencer Strider. He’s hitting .500/.579/1.063 against Strider over his career with 16 at-bats. Nimmo has a 112 OPS+ this season, a slight improvement over his 107 OPS+ from last season, but still a far cry from the four years from 2020-2023 where he was hitting with at least a 128 OPS+.
3. Jeff McNeil. McNeil’s single on Wednesday night extended his on-base streak to 20 games. Over his on-base streak he has hit .300/.367/.571 with 21 hits and nine extra-base hits, raising his season line from .226/.355/.435 to .265/.361/.508. For context, John Olerud has the longest Mets on-base streak at 47 games set between the 1998 and 1999 seasons.

Let’s go Mets!

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