The Mets’ starting rotation has become a growing concern, with injuries and ineffective performances forcing several pitchers into bullpen roles. As a result, the club has continued to rely on bullpen games, a risky strategy against one of baseball’s hottest teams.
After dropping two of three games to the Cardinals to open a crucial six-game homestand, New York now shifts its focus to a division showdown with Atlanta. The Braves enter the series with a 45-23 record and remain one of the top teams in Major League Baseball. While the Mets trail by 15 games in the NL East standings, their priority remains building momentum and putting together a consistent winning stretch.
Adding another layer of intrigue is the presence of former Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, who left New York after six seasons to join Atlanta during the offseason. Under Hefner’s guidance, the Braves’ pitching staff has thrived, surrendering the second-fewest runs in the majors while limiting opponents to a .218 batting average and a .651 OPS—both among the league’s best marks.
Hefner is not the only familiar face in the opposing dugout. Former Mets first-base coach and baserunning coordinator Antoan Richardson also joined Atlanta after a contract disagreement with New York. Richardson played a key role in developing Juan Soto’s running game in 2025, helping the star outfielder post a career-best 38 stolen bases.
With every game carrying added significance, the Mets will have an opportunity this weekend not only to gain ground in the standings but also to square off against two former coaches now working for a division rival. Here’s a look at the projected pitching matchups and which team may hold the edge in each contest.
Friday, June 12 (7:15 p.m. ET): Spencer Strider (ATL) vs. Nolan McLean (NYM)
Spencer Strider: 4-1, 4.00 ERA, 43 K
Spencer Strider’s road back to the majors has been anything but straightforward. After emerging as one of baseball’s most dominant pitchers in 2023, he established himself as another elite weapon in Atlanta’s loaded rotation. However, injuries derailed his 2024 campaign, leading to UCL surgery and a lengthy recovery process. When he returned the following season, he was still working to regain the overpowering velocity that had defined his success.
After opening the 2026 season on the injured list, Strider has steadily rounded into form. Through seven starts, the 27-year-old owns a 4-1 record with a 4.00 ERA and 43 strikeouts. A matchup against the Mets provides another opportunity to continue building momentum. His history against New York has been somewhat mixed. While he has posted a strong 6-2 record in nine career starts against the Mets, he also carries a 6.11 ERA in those outings. With several new faces in the Mets lineup, it will be worth watching how both sides adjust in their first meeting of the season.
Nolan McLean: 3-4, 3.98 ERA, 82 K
Nolan McLean’s introduction to the major leagues has come under challenging circumstances. The rookie right-hander entered the spotlight almost immediately, carrying significant expectations as the Mets searched for answers amid a struggling season. Following Clay Holmes’ injury against the Yankees on May 15, McLean was asked to help stabilize a rotation in need of reinforcements. Recently, though, the young pitcher appears to have regained his confidence.
There was a difficult stretch in which McLean allowed 16 earned runs across 16 innings while issuing six walks over three starts. During that span, concerns began to grow as the dominance he displayed earlier in the season seemed to disappear, marking the first major obstacle in his development at the big-league level.
Over his last two outings, McLean has adjusted his approach, focusing less on overpowering hitters and more on managing at-bats efficiently. The change has produced encouraging results. Across his last 11 innings, he has surrendered only two earned runs while recording seven strikeouts. Although he has issued eight walks during that stretch, five of those came in a single start against Miami. Despite the elevated walk totals, McLean has shown resilience and has responded well in consecutive appearances.
McLean has faced Atlanta only once, but the outing was one of his best. He earned the victory after tossing seven innings, allowing two runs and striking out seven hitters. With the Braves boasting one of the league’s most productive lineups, his game plan and execution will once again be under the microscope.
Game 1 Advantage: Mets
Saturday, June 13 (4:10 p.m. ET): Martin Perez (ATL) vs. TBD (NYM)
Martin Perez: 4-3, 3.02 ERA, 47 K
Saturday’s matchup will give the Mets a close look at Atlanta’s ability to maximize talent. Time and again, the Braves have found ways to revitalize players and turn overlooked contributors into key pieces, much like Eddie Rosario’s impactful role during their 2021 World Series championship run.
Martin Perez experienced his career resurgence more recently, earning an All-Star selection with the Texas Rangers in 2022. During that season, he emerged as one of baseball’s most effective starters, posting a 2.89 ERA and a 12-8 record across 32 starts. Perez also recorded 169 strikeouts while limiting opposing hitters to a .241 batting average. After spending time with multiple organizations in recent years, the veteran left-hander appears to have found another successful fit in Atlanta.
In 13 appearances, including nine starts this season, Perez has thrived under the guidance of Jeremy Hefner and the Braves’ coaching staff. He enters the series with a 4-3 record, a 3.02 ERA, and 47 strikeouts, while opponents are hitting just .201 against him. Because he has had limited exposure to many of the Mets’ current hitters, the contest presents a relatively unfamiliar challenge for both teams.
Mets: TBD
Although New York has yet to officially name a starter, the likely plan is becoming easier to project. On Wednesday, the Mets deployed a bullpen game that began with Austin Warren before David Peterson handled the bulk of the innings. Given that recent strategy, the club could follow a similar blueprint by starting Huascar Brazobán before turning the majority of the workload over to Sean Manaea.
Manaea has shown encouraging signs in recent weeks, compiling a 3.28 ERA over his last five appearances. During that stretch, he has logged 19.2 innings while striking out 19 batters. The Mets have recently adjusted their pitching usage, shifting Manaea into a role where he follows an opener rather than starting outright. Against Atlanta, Manaea has performed well throughout his career, posting a 3.50 ERA across 18 innings while recording 23 strikeouts and allowing seven runs in three appearances.
Game 2 Advantage: Braves
Sunday, June 14 (1:40 p.m. ET): Bryce Elder (ATL) vs. Freddy Peralta (NYM)
Bryce Elder: 5-3, 2.66 ERA, 71 K
Perhaps the biggest surprise of Atlanta’s pitching success this season has been the resurgence of Bryce Elder. After earning an All-Star nod in 2023, Elder struggled through the next two campaigns, posting ERAs above 5.00 in both seasons and raising questions about his long-term outlook.
This year, however, the right-hander has looked rejuvenated. Through 14 starts, Elder has compiled a 2.66 ERA with 71 strikeouts and has recorded 10 quality starts, putting himself firmly in the conversation for another All-Star selection. He has also enjoyed success against New York throughout his career, going 3-0 with a 3.91 ERA and 31 strikeouts in six appearances. Given the form he has displayed throughout 2026, he enters this matchup as one of Atlanta’s most reliable arms.
Freddy Peralta: 4-5, 4.04 ERA, 79 K
Freddy Peralta’s first season in Queens has fallen short of expectations. The Mets paid a significant price to acquire the veteran right-hander, parting with top prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat in a move designed to strengthen the rotation and provide stability at the front end of the staff.
So far, the results have been underwhelming. Across 14 starts, Peralta owns a 4-5 record with a 4.04 ERA and 79 strikeouts. He has also issued 32 walks, and one of the recurring concerns has been his inability to pitch deep into games. In fact, he has completed more than six innings only once this season. His most recent outing was particularly troublesome, as he surrendered six earned runs over six innings in one of his roughest performances of the year.
Despite the inconsistent production, Peralta remains a highly regarded pitcher around the league. Reports recently surfaced indicating that the two-time All-Star could seek a contract comparable to the eight-year, $218 million deal that Max Fried signed with the Yankees in 2024.
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