Currently: - Game info: 4:35 pm EDT Tue Sep 28, 2004
- TV: MSG, SPSO
The New York Mets have been eliminated from the playoffs, but that hasn’t stopped them from playing the role of spoiler.
The Mets hope to play more havoc on the playoff picture when they play a doubleheader against the NL East champion Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.
The remnants of Hurricane Jeanne rained out Monday night’s opener forcing New York and Atlanta into playing their second doubleheader this month.
The Mets split a pair with the Braves at Shea Stadium on Sept. 13 and went on to take three of five against Atlanta in a rare five-game series.
New York played havoc with the Chicago Cubs playoff plans this past weekend.
The Mets beat Chicago 3-2 on Sunday, winning two of three in the series and damaging the Cubs’ chances of winning the NL wild card. New York, which rallied from a 3-0 deficit with two out in the ninth inning Saturday before pulling out a 4-3 win in 11 innings, has won four of its last five games.
“For a team that’s out of it, there’s a responsibility to try and win the game against a potential playoff team,” said starter Al Leiter, who earned the win Sunday. “There’s a consequence to the other team. It feels good to play well against a playoff-caliber team.”
Steve Trachsel will pitch the first game for New York on Tuesday with Tom Glavine set to go in the seond game.
Glavine has been terrible against his former team, going 1-5 with a 9.00 ERA in six starts against Atlanta. Glavine had a 2.66 ERA in 19 starts before the All-Star break, but he’s 3-6 with a 5.15 ERA in 12 starts since.
The Braves have a two-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers for the second-best record in the NL. Atlanta wants to finish the season strong to ensure that they get homefield advantage in the NL division series.
The Braves are coming off a three-game sweep of the Florida Marlins, including Sunday’s 6-3 victory.
Chipper Jones drove in two runs for Atlanta, raising his total to 95 with six games remaining. Jones is trying to join Sammy Sosa as the only NL players with nine straight 100-RBI seasons.
Amazin' Avenue
Talking Chop
