Braves Aim for Series Win Against Mets with Martín Pérez on the Mound

After a challenging June, the Atlanta Braves are looking to maintain their positive momentum in July. They kicked off the month with three wins in four games, decisively taking at least a split in their four-game series against the New York Mets after a commanding 14-3 victory on Saturday night.

However, given that Atlanta lost six of its last seven series leading up to this matchup, merely splitting the series isn’t the goal. The Braves have an opportunity to secure a series win in Sunday’s afternoon finale at Truist Park, scheduled for 12:30 p.m. EDT.

Taking the mound for Atlanta will be Martín Pérez, who boasts a record of 6-5 and an impressive 3.27 ERA. Pérez has been one of the team’s most reliable starters this season, though he is looking to rebound from a less-than-stellar outing in his last start, where he surrendered four runs on five hits over five innings. That performance was a rare blemish in an otherwise solid season, as it marked the first time he allowed two home runs in a game since his previous six starts combined.

Pérez faced the Mets just a few weeks ago, delivering a strong performance by allowing only one run on four hits across 5 1/3 innings, helping Atlanta to a 3-1 victory on June 13. He enters this matchup with a perfect 5-0 record and a 2.94 career ERA in 11 appearances against New York, including seven starts.

On the opposing side, rookie right-hander Nolan McLean, who holds a 5-5 record and a 3.78 ERA, will take the mound for the Mets. Similar to Pérez, McLean has not suffered a loss against the Braves, although his record stands at just 1-0 in two starts. His most recent outing against Atlanta was less successful; he allowed two runs on three hits, striking out six but also issuing four walks, as the Braves made him work hard, forcing 93 pitches in New York’s 7-5 win on June 12. That outing was his only start in June where he did not pitch for six or more innings.

As the Braves look to capitalize on their offensive resurgence—having hit a remarkable nine home runs in the first two games of the series—facing McLean will present an interesting challenge. The rookie’s previous month was marked by a struggle against long balls, allowing six home runs in six starts in May, but he improved in June, permitting just two homers in five starts.

Fans can catch this early Sunday showdown on NBC and Peacock, a departure from the usual broadcast channels. Veteran play-by-play announcer Matt Vasgersian will be joined by Braves legend Andruw Jones, who is set to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame shortly, along with former Mets infielder Todd Zeile providing color commentary.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.