Atlanta at New York

The Phillies swept the Mets four straight awhile back, and that served as a wake-up call. The Mets then went to Atlanta, where they seldom win, and put the broom on the Braves sweeping the three-game series. It didn't end there as the Mets have now gone on to win eight of nine, and the only loss came when manager Willie Randolph sat and rested almost the entire lineup in the series finale against the Reds. The Braves could muster just four runs vs. the Mets at home while being swept, and will send Tim Hudson to the mound for the series opener. Hudson has really been getting a lot of runs from the Braves as they have scored six a game with him on the hill hiding the fact that he really hasn't pitched well. Hudson had a 1.77 ERA in mid-May, but has since worked 128.2 innings, allowing 145 hits and an ERA of 4.34. His most recent starts have been even worse. His last six starts show 36 innings, 50 hits and a 5.75 ERA, and he has allowed at least three earned runs in everyone of them. Oliver Perez has maintained an ERA in the 3s virtually the entire season, and the Braves are fading fast, as they have wilted in the pennant drive going just 9-14 over their last 23. The Mets are hot, Hudson is not.