Braves vs Mets Odds, Betting Lines, and Probable Pitchers – July 26th

• The New York Mets are -155 home favorites over the Atlanta Braves in the first game of a National League doubleheader game slated for Monday, July 26
• New York has won six of 11 games from Atlanta this season
• The Braves won the past two meetings, outscoring the Mets 24-5

If the Atlanta Braves are going to make at attempt to run down the National League East-leading New York Mets, the next five games will go a long way toward determining whether they can make it happen. The Braves and Mets are opening a five-game series at Citi Field with a doubleheader on Monday.

In the opener of the twinbill, the Braves (48-50, 22-25 away) send Kyle Muller to the hill to face Marcus Stroman of the Mets (52-44, 30-15 home). Atlanta sits third in the NL East. The Braves are one game back of the Philadelphia Phillies and five games behind the leading Mets.

Oddsmakers are favoring New York to widen that margin at home. The Mets are established as the -155 chalk. They are 23-11 as a home favorite this season.

Braves vs Mets Odds

Odds as of July 26th at DraftKings.

First pitch at Citi Field is set for 5:10pm ET. The forecast is for cloudy skies, a temperature of 89 degrees and 3 mph wind.

Atlanta hasn’t won back-to-back games since a three-game win streak from July 7-10.  The Braves are also 0-4 in the last four first games of doubleheaders.

New York has won the first game of each of its last six series. The Mets are also 6-1 in their last seven openers of twinbills.

Muller vs Stroman

It’s deja vu all over again, as former Mets manager Yogi Berra liked to say, for rookie Braves rookie southpaw Muller. He made his first major league start in the opener of a twinbill at Citi Field on June 21.

He lost 4-2 to Jacob DeGrom. Muller worked four innings without surrendering a hit. However, bases on balls got him into trouble. He walked two and gave up one earned run.

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Over 19.2 innings in the show, Muller has walked as many batters  (11) as he’s surrendered hits (11). He does keep the ball in park, though. Muller has only served up one home run while striking out 23.

The only previous meeting this season between Mets righty Stroman and the Braves was short-lived. He exited after the first inning of their June 22 meeting with a hip injury.

Stroman is coming off his best outing of the season. He pitched eight shutout innings against the Cincinnati Reds in a 7-0 victory on July 21. Stroman allowed a solitary hit. He struck out seven and walked only one.

Back in black. @Mets pic.twitter.com/uAwwABWbST

— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) July 25, 2021

Over his last 12 starts, Stroman has checked every opponent on three earned runs or less. Over 20 starts, he’s allowed in excess of three runs on two occasions.

He’s a perfect 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA in five career stars against Atlanta.

Batting Average vs Starting Pitchers

Several Braves have enjoyed their plate appearances against Stroman. Catcher Kevan Smith is 2-for-4 (.500) with a homer and two RBI. Shortstop Dansby Swanson is 4-for-8 (.500).

Steven Vogt belongs in the Braves Hall of Fame.

I love you unconditionally.

— Iñky (@inkiavelli) July 18, 2021

Catcher Stephen Vogt is 3-for-6 with home run and 2 RBI. Pablo Sandoval is a 1.000 hitter (1-for-1) and second baseman Ozzie Albies is 4-for-10 (.400).

There isn’t a single Mets hitter with a base hit off of Muller.

Braves vs Mets Pick

Two games ago, the Braves put a 20-2 beat down on the Mets. They’ve also shut the Mets out twice this season at Citi Field.

Mets win. Braves need a sweep just to pull to a tie in the division.

— WatchingBraves (@WatchingBraves) July 25, 2021

Muller’s control issues could be the difference in this game. We’re talking about those 11 bases on balls in 19.2 big-league innings that he’s issued. Stroman has walked two batters over the past 23 innings that he’s worked.

• Pick: New York Mets (-155).