The New York Mets and Atlanta Braves are both in the MLB playoffs. The Mets punched their ticket with a wild 8-7 win over the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of Monday’s doubleheader.
The Braves followed up with a 3-0 win in Game 2 to secure their place in the postseason. That means that the reigning NL champion Arizona Diamondbacks are out of the playoffs. The Diamondbacks needed one of the Braves or Mets to get swept on Sunday to leapfrog them for baseball’s final postseason berth.
The two games played Monday were postponed last week because of Hurricane Helene, adding some chaos to the MLB playoff picture ahead of the start of the wild-card series on Tuesday.
The Braves secured the No. 5 seed with Monday’s win and will travel to play the No. 4 seed San Diego Padres in the wild-card round. The No. 6 seed Mets will travel to face the No. 3 seed Milwaukee Brewers.
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Neither of last year’s World Series teams qualified for the postseason
The Braves’ win eliminating the Diamondbacks from the National League wild-card playoff picture has an intriguing footnote.
For the first time since 2007, neither team from the previous year’s World Series will be in the postseason.
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New clubhouse celebration headgear
Michael Harris II may have reinvented clubhouse celebration gear years after the advent of swim and ski goggles to prevent champagne from stinging the eyes. How about a football helmet?
… Not sure that kept the eyes shielded.
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Braves celebrate their postseason bid
How often do both clubhouses in a MLB ballpark break out the champagne at the same time? Here pop the Braves.
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Carlos Mendoza clubhouse celebration speech
The Mets broke out the champagne after both games of their doubleheader were completed on Monday. Presumably, it would’ve been difficult to celebrate like that after Game 1, then go play another game 45 minutes later.
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Braves win 3-0, return to the postseason for 7th straight year
Raisel Iglesias closes out a 3–0 win for the Braves, who clinch an NL wild-card playoff bid with the victory and will be the No. 5 seed in the postseason bracket.
Jose Iglesias led off with a single, but was erased on a double-play grounder from Brandon Nimmo. Pete Alonso grounded out to shortstop to end the game.
The Mets will take the No. 6 seed. And the Diamondbacks are squeezed out of the postseason picture with Atlanta’s win.
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Mets scoreless through 8 innings
Joe Jiménez dispatches the Mets with 11 pitches in the 8th inning, retiring Luis Torrens, Eddy Alvarez and Luisangel Acuña.
Two hits through 8 innings for the Mets. It’s not looking good for the Arizona Diamondbacks’ postseason chances.
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Braves take 3-0 lead in the 7th
Huascar Brazoban takes over to pitch the 7th inning.
After a leadoff walk to Sean Murphy, Brazoban gets Orlando Arcia and Michael Harris II out. But Ozzie Albies reaches on a throwing error by Brazoban, fielding the ball near third base.
Marcell Ozuna follows with a single that scores Murphy and Albies.
Matt Olson then singles, but is thrown out at second trying to stretch out a double and ends the inning.
Braves 3, Mets 0
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Mets still scoreless
Reynaldo Lopez pitches the 7th inning for the Braves and retires all three hitters with two strikeouts.
Mets have 2 hits and no runs through 7 innings.
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6 innings, 1 run, 2 hits for Joey Lucchesi
After 111 pitches, Joey Lucchesi appears to be done based on the hugs in the Mets’ dugout.
Remember, he only got the starting nod after the Mets won Game 1 of this doubleheader. After clinching an NL wild-card playoff bid, New York pushed Luis Severino to the postseason opener.
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Braves threaten, but do not score in 6th
Jorge Soler got his second double of the game off Joey Lucchesi. Eli White came in to pinch-run for Soler and moved to third on a sacrifice fly by Ramón Laureano. But Lucchesi escapes by getting Gio Urshela to fly out to shallow left.
Lucchesi has allowed one run and two hits in six innings, walking four with four strikeouts.
Braves 1, Mets 0 after 6 innings.
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Dylan Lee finishes top of the 6th for Braves
Dylan Lee allowed a single to Brandon Nimmo, but gets Pete Alonso to ground out to third base on his first pitch.
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Pitching change for the Braves
After putting Eddy Alvarez by hitting him with a pitch, Daysbel Hernandez gets Luisangel Acuña and Jose Iglesias out. But Dylan Lee will now take over for Atlanta to pitch to Brandon Nimmo, who hit a 2-run homer in Game 1.
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5th inning: Braves 1, Mets 0
Joey Lucchesi pitches a 1-2-3 fifth inning for the Mets, getting all three hitters he faced to ground out.
That might be it for the left-hander after 93 pitches. He allowed one run and two hits, also throwing four walks with four strikeouts.
Lucchesi was called up from Triple-A Syracuse for this start. After winning Game 1 of this doubleheader and clinching a postseason spot, the Mets held Luis Severino back to pitch their NL wild-card opener.
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Braves’ Daysbel Hernandez escapes with no runs allowed
Daysbel Hernandez came on in relief of Grant Holmes, who put the first two batters of the 5th inning on base. Hernandez then struck out Tyrone Taylor and Harrison Bader before getting Luis Torrens to ground out. No runs allowed after the Mets had two on with no outs.
Braves 1, Mets 0 in the bottom of the 5th.
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Pete Alonso gets Mets first hit
Grant Holmes finally allows his first hit of the game, giving up a single to Pete Alonso.
After a walk to Starling Marte, Holmes is out. Daysbel Hernandez is now in to pitch for Atlanta.
Four innings for Holmes with no runs, one hit allowed and seven strikeouts.
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Repeat: Grant Holmes is humming
Another 1-2-3 inning for Atlanta’s Grant Holmes, who has not allowed a hit in 4 innings.
He has 7 strikeouts on 46 p
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Braves go down 1-2-3 in the 3rd
Joey Lucchesi retired all three Atlanta hitters he faced in the 3rd inning with two strikeouts.
Braves 1, Mets 0
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Grant Holmes keeps humming
Grant Holmes has pitched 3 innings without allowing a hit or run. He has six strikeouts on 34 pitches.
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Mets escape 2nd inning only allowing one run
The Braves looked like they might put together a big inning. After taking a 1-0 lead on a Gio Urshela, Joey Lucchesi walked Sean Murphy.
But with two runners on and one out, Lucchesi gets Orlando Arcia to pop out and Michael Harris II to ground out and limit the damage.
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Braves take 1-0 lead
Jorge Soler led off the 2nd inning with a double. Two batters later, Gio Urshela drove him in with a single to left field.
Braves 1, Mets 0
