The Braves (62-44) are a force in the National League, looking the part of a World Series contender. However, competition for a postseason bye is fierce against fellow division leaders in the Brewers and Dodgers. There’s far less to play for in Queens, where the last-place Mets (45-62) are mired in mediocrity. Still, New York should come out motivated to take two in a row from their NL East rivals tonight. Who will emerge victorious this evening during the second leg of this doubleheader?
The Braves are favorites (-156) over the Mets, with the over/under set at 7.5 runs. Below, I’ve laid out my preview, prediction, and best bet for Wednesday’s nightcap between Atlanta and New York on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Braves vs. Mets pick, best bet today
- Braves -1.5 (+113): The Braves are a legitimate contender, while the Mets are playing out the schedule at this point. Without Juan Soto, it’s difficult to have much faith in New York’s lineup vs. an elite pitcher in Sale. Expect a decisive win for the road team this evening.
Braves vs. Mets prediction, preview
It’ll be Chris Sale on the bump tonight, making his 20th start of the season for Atlanta. The former NL Cy Young winner has been his usual dominant self in 2026. Through 111.0 innings pitched, the veteran has notched a 2.19 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 134 strikeouts (10.9 K/9). Those numbers are no fluke either; the southpaw’s Savant page is a work of art. Sale ranks inside the 82nd percentile in xERA (3.18), chase rate (36.0%), whiff rate (30.4%), strikeout rate (29.7%) and walk rate (5.7%). He also excels at keeping the ball in the park; the lefty owns a National League-best 0.6 HR/9 ratio.
Taking care of the Mets isn’t particularly difficult for most opposing pitchers. That’s especially true with slugger Juan Soto (calf) on the injured list. The Amazin’s are averaging just 4.17 runs per game, sixth-worst in the majors. Although they’ve been a bit better at home, this lineup doesn’t inspire much confidence. That’s without factoring in the presence of an elite starting pitcher on the other team. Sale has recorded a 2.14 ERA over his previous three meetings with New York. Atlanta’s All-Star has thrown a wipeout slider on nearly 40% of his pitches this season. Against that offering, Mets hitters are slashing just .205/.274/.346.
On the other side, Christian Scott will toe the slab for New York. All things considered, he’s been a consistent presence in this Mets rotation. Over 63.1 innings pitched (14 starts), he’s posted a 3.13 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 78 strikeouts (11.1 K/9). Where the right-hander specializes is punch outs; he sits within the 88th percentile in strikeout rate (28.8%). However, he ranks inside the bottom 22nd percentile in walk rate (10.7%). It’s also worth noting that the 27-year-old struggles with length; he hasn’t pitched more than 5.2 innings in any of his appearances so far.
Scott will have his hands full navigating a loaded Braves offense. The team is sixth in runs scored (523) and ninth in OPS (.731). That’s without factoring in Ronald Acuna Jr., who made his return off of the injured list last night. When these teams met on July 3rd, New York’s hurler coughed up three runs in four innings. Atlanta doesn’t always work the count, placing 26th in walks per game (3.04). However, Scott’s tendency to hand out free passes (4.1 BB/9) could add some extra traffic on the base paths.
Best Bet: Braves -1.5 (+113)
The Braves, despite slumping a few weeks prior, are back to their winning ways. Handing the ball to Sale only makes this group that much more difficult. As for the Mets, Scott could be overmatched against one of baseball’s deepest lineups. Keeping that in mind, it’s difficult not to back Atlanta at plus money on Wednesday.
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