Not surprisingly, the Braves haven't had much trouble beating the Mets.
Freeman looks to lead surging Atlanta to an eighth straight win over New York as it seeks another sweep Sunday night at Citi Field.
Freeman got off to a quick start Saturday, hitting a two-run double in the first inning and a three-run homer that sailed over the giant apple behind the center-field fence as part of a seven-run second inning for Atlanta (66-47), which battered Johan Santana in his return from the disabled list in a 9-3 win.
The Braves counter with Ben Sheets (4-1, 1.41), who is far exceeding expectations after being out of baseball for two years because of Tommy John surgery, having permitted one or no runs in four of his five starts.
His comeback began against the Mets on July 15, when he gave up two hits and one walk while striking out five in six scoreless innings in a 6-1 win. Daniel Murphy and Josh Thole got the only hits off Sheets, who improved to 5-1 with a 3.32 ERA in his last seven starts against New York.
The right-hander was shaky against Miami on Aug. 1, allowing four runs and 11 hits in 6 2-3 innings in a 4-2 loss. He bounced back, though, with another solid performance against Philadelphia on Monday, yielding one run and seven hits in a season-high 7 1-3 innings of a 6-1 victory.
This will be his first appearance at Citi Field, where New York has lost 11 of 12.
The Mets, who are a season-worst six games under .500, have lost five of six overall and also dropped five Niese's last six outings.
Against the Marlins on Tuesday, Niese gave up four runs and eight hits in six innings of a 4-2 defeat. All four runs and five of the hits came in the fourth inning.
The left-hander has won his last three starts against the Braves despite a 5.19 ERA. He has been backed by a 9.35 run support average. Niese's last start in the series came in his season debut April 8, when he allowed four runs, two hits and four walks in six innings of a 7-5 victory.
Sheets road starts are 2-0 with 0.68 ERA and 1.200 WHIP
Niese home starts are 4-3 with 4.16 ERA and 1.122 WHIP
The trends aren't getting any better for the Mets so there's not much use in repeating them day after day. Nothing changes today except the pitchers. The same beat-down will occur and the Braves still win. 2 straight days we've cashed the ML and RL. On the side i've also played the 1H and the -2.5 RL...all have cashed. No sense in getting greedy here but i still believe the Braves are unstoppable today with Sheets on the mound. Same as yesterday, we take the Braves on the ML and RL. Good Luck
ATL BRAVES -110
ATL BRAVES -1½+145
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