ESPN

ATLANTA

FIRST PITCH: The Mets may rival the Miami Marlins for futility in 2013, but Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler -- 1A and 1B – offer the hope to fans of better days to come.

“They’re going to enjoy watching these two guys for a long time,” Terry Collins said after Harvey and Wheeler earned the victories in a doubleheader sweep at Turner Field on Tuesday. “They’re going to be around and they’re going to be in the same rotation. You’ve got two guys that can win some baseball games for you.”

Wednesday’s news reports:

• Harvey took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning of Game 1 and the Mets narrowly held on for a 4-3 win thanks to Bobby Parnell’s four-out save. Wheeler, despite walking five batters, then tossed six scoreless innings in the nightcap as the Mets swept Atlanta with a 6-1 victory. Harvey believed a no-hitter was attainable until Jason Heyward produced a leadoff infield single up the first-base line in the seventh. Wheeler described himself as amped up early for his major league debut.

Writes columnist Bob Klapisch in the Record:

Listen hard enough and you could almost pick up the dog-whistle message after the Mets had finished sweeping the Braves on Tuesday: The suffering is over. Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler did more than offer a beta version of better times ahead. This was chicken soup for Flushing’s battered soul.

It almost wouldn’t have mattered how the franchise’s two best pitching prospects fared -- the fact that Harvey and Wheeler were on display, exploding the radar gun in the high 90s, served as its own medicine. But the day turned out better than that for the Mets. Much better, in fact.

Writes columnist John Harper in the Daily News:

At the very least, Super Tuesday was a showcase of dazzling pitching talent for Mets fans to savor, and, who knows, it may come to be remembered as the start of something big. There are miles to go to make that happen, and with the Mets, you know there is bound to be more misfortune along the way.

Still, it was quite the 10 hours or so.

Writes Brian Costa in the Journal:

Matt Harvey in the day game. Zack Wheeler in the night game. A legitimate ace and a potential ace, both out of the Mets' farm system, together in a doubleheader loaded with intrigue. Harvey chased a no-hitter. Wheeler made a stellar big-league debut.

Awful as they may be, the Mets deserved to stop and enjoy this. And if you've suffered through the sorry spectacle that is Mets baseball recently, how could you not? It was a proud day for an organization that hasn't had many of them.

Read game recaps in the Post, Daily News, Star-Ledger, Record, Newsday, Times, Journal and MLB.com as well as columnist Mike Vaccaro’s take in the Post and columnist David Lennon’s take in Newsday.

• In a flurry of late-night maneuvers, the Mets traded right-hander Collin McHugh to the Colorado Rockies for second baseman/outfielder Eric Young Jr., promoted outfielder/first baseman Andrew Brown from Triple-A Las Vegas and designated Collin Cowgill for assignment. The Mets also are expected to place Scott Atchison (groin) on the disabled list today. Atchison had just been activated from the DL on Tuesday morning, when Justin Turner landed on the DL with a strained intercostal muscle on his left side.

The final move Tuesday night involved sending Wheeler back to Triple-A Las Vegas, which is playing in Tucson, Ariz., through Friday. Wheeler will return in time for Tuesday’s start against the Chicago White Sox in the Windy City.

Read more in the Star-Ledger, Newsday, Daily News and MLB.com.

• Straight-talking New Jersey governor Chris Christie told schoolchildren about his affection for the Mets while saying they “stink” and are “awful.” Read more in the Star-Ledger.

• First-round pick Dominic Smith is imminently signing with the Mets. Newsday reported the deal will be worth $2.6 million -- about $200,000 below slot.

• Ex-Met Fernando Martinez has been traded by the Houston Astros to the Yankees.

• Asked if New York hosting the All-Star game should factor into whether Harvey should start the spectacle, San Francisco Giants/NL manager Bruce Bochy told SiriusXM:

“Well, it would play a part in it, sure. … That could play a part in my decision. These are things [Giants pitching coach] Dave Righetti and I will talk about, but I think it should play a part, to be honest. Now, I also believe that whoever deserves to go, whoever deserves to start that game should get that. But all things even, then I think you look at something like that -- a guy that’s in his hometown pitching.”

• Some Mets fans took offense to a Braves announcer hoping on air that Harvey would strain an oblique Tuesday. Watch the YouTube clip here.

• Dustin Lawley produced a game-tying two-run homer in the seventh, then had a walk-off RBI double two innings later as St. Lucie beat Charlotte, 7-6. Read the full minor league recap here.

• Dwight Gooden has taken notice of the attention Wheeler’s debut received. “It’s been incredible the way that people have been so eager to see him -- if that excitement is channeled right it could really help him,” Gooden told Roger Rubin in the Daily News.

• Michael Salfino in the Journal chronicles the Mets’ history of late-inning collapses at Turner Field.

• From the bloggers … Faith and Fear notes Wheeler is the first Met born in the 1990s and examines the debuts of other decade-‘firsters’ in franchise history.

BIRTHDAYS: McHugh, who was traded to the Rockies last night, turns 26. … Bruce Chen, now with the Royals, turns 36. … Claudio Vargas is 35.

TWEET OF THE DAY:

Excited to now be apart of the @Mets family. Can't wait to meet/play with my new teammates, and play in NY!

— Eric Young Jr (@EYJr) June 19, 2013

YOU’RE UP: Do you like the acquisition of Eric Young Jr.?

TUCSON 5, LAS VEGAS 2: Greg Burke surrendered three seventh-inning runs as Tucson broke a 2-all tie. Box

BINGHAMTON at RICHMOND (ppd.)

ST. LUCIE 7, CHARLOTTE 6: Dustin Lawley’s walk-off RBI double to left scored T.J. Rivera in the ninth. The Mets (36-30) trailed 6-3 in the seventh before an RBI double by Matt Reynolds cut the deficit to two runs. Lawley then had a game-tying two-run homer to tie the score. Reynolds had a two-run homer in the fifth to give the Mets a 3-2 lead. Reynolds fell a single shy of the cycle. He was hit by a pitch in the ninth. Rivera had three hits and two runs scored. Hamilton Bennett earned the victory in relief with a scoreless ninth. Randy Fontanez pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Alex Panteliodis started and allowed two runs and seven hits while issuing two walks and striking out two in five innings. Estarlin Morel surrendered four runs (two earned) on five hits in 1 1/3 innings. Box

STATEN ISLAND at BROOKLYN (ppd.)

Compiled from team reports

#Astros acquire RHP Charles Basford from #Yankees, send OF Fernando Martinez to New York. Basford will join Tri-City. #MLB

— Brian T. Smith (@ChronAstros) June 19, 2013

ATLANTA -- After tossing six scoreless innings and earning the win Tuesday night, Zack Wheeler signed autographs for the locals from his hometown who came to Turner Field for his major league debut. Terry Collins then gave Wheeler the option of spending the night at home in Dallas, Ga., or back at the team hotel.

"I think I'm just going to stay at the hotel," Wheeler said after the Mets swept the Braves in a doubleheader with a 6-1 nightcap win. "I'm tired."

For a fan base beaten down by the travails of a team heading for its fifth straight losing season, Tuesday's dominance by Matt Harvey and then Wheeler's victory proved a welcome reprieve -- a chance to consider what might be.

"That's a formidable two arms that hopefully develop into a 1A and a 1B," David Wright said. "Obviously, just like every other Mets fan I was eager to kind of see what all the hype was about. It gives you a good glimpse of possibly what could be in the very near future. ... I'm a firm believer that as much as I'd like to try to go out there and score 20 runs a game, you see how necessary pitching is and you see how quickly good, young power arms can turn an organization around -- Washington, San Francisco. That's crucial for us to hit on some of these good, young power arms that we have. It seems like we have plenty of them. Zack is obviously at the head of that class."

Wheeler walked a pair of runners in the first inning and confessed he was amped up early. He walked five batters overall.

"A little bit was nerves," Wheeler said, before adding: "It really wasn't nerves. I wasn't nervous. It was adrenaline, I think. Everything was just sped up a little bit mechanically. I just couldn't get comfortable and find a rhythm and release point. It was all over the place. I was around the strike zone, but it was still balls."

Said Harvey: "You could tell that he came out and was a little bit excited. The ball was a little all over the place. But he settled in nice and went six innings. That's a really good hitting team. So obviously going out there six innings in your debut and not giving up any runs, that's a pretty impressive start."

Wheeler said he paid close attention during Harvey's matinee start. The duo are not identical pitchers, but they're both right-handed and can rev their fastball to the upper-90s.

During the first inning, Wright, pitching coach Dan Warthen, Anthony Recker and Daniel Murphy all made separate visits to the mound to calm him. Wright had dined with Wheeler in the wee hours of Tuesday morning, after the Mets finished their scheduled Monday game at 1:22 a.m.

"I was just asking him how he felt and if he was nervous or not. He said he wasn't nervous," Wright recalled about their dinner. "And then they were spraying the ball everywhere. So I just told him that he was a liar, that he looked nervous. It was cool. It's cool to see anybody make their major league debut, but when you have those kind of expectations and you're as highly touted as he is, to come in and live up to those expectations and be as cool and calm and collected as he was is pretty cool to see."

Wheeler is particularly close to Jason Heyward, with whom he trains in Atlanta during the offseason.

"I didn't look at him," Wheeler said. "I usually stare at people when they come into the box. But I didn't look at him because I didn't want to laugh or anything, because he's a jokester."

Wheeler had quite the cheering section behind the Mets dugout. And his parents sat next to Chipper Jones in the second row behind the plate. That was arranged by Wheeler's agent, who also represented Chipper.

In the end, the feel-good Mets' day had ended with the team's first doubleheader sweep in Atlanta since July 7, 1987.

"I can't remember the last time we swept a doubleheader, so that's nice -- especially here," Wright said. "It was nice to get those two wins. And it was nice to see both of those guys pitch as well as they did. Obviously the stuff is there. That's the first time I've really got a chance to see Wheeler throw. The stuff is there. The confidence is there. The poise is there. Now it's just a matter of kind of getting on that Matt Harvey program where you start commanding it and harnessing that stuff. But you can tell why he's so highly touted. It's all there."

ATLANTA -- The New York Mets traded right-hander Collin McHugh to the Colorado Rockies for second baseman/outfielder Eric Young Jr. on Tuesday night in a swap of players who had been designated for assignment.

The Mets also promoted outfielder Andrew Brown and designated Collin Cowgill for assignment.

And they officially are sending Zack Wheeler back to Triple-A Las Vegas for the weekend. He will throw a bullpen session for Triple-A pitching coach Randy St. Claire, then meet up with the Mets in Chicago at the end of the weekend.

The Mets will have to subtract one more player from the major league roster by Wednesday's game. Terry Collins expected Scott Atchison, who suffered a right groin injury while throwing warm-up pitches Tuesday night, would land on the DL.

"The second warm-up pitch I felt a little tug in my groin," Atchison said. "I tried to throw another one and felt it pulling some more. Basically, I can't push off. It's on the right side. I couldn't go. It's frustrating, obviously. My arm felt great. I felt good. I hadn't had any signs of this."

Young, 28, will report to the Mets. He hit .242 with one homer and six RBIs and had eight steals in 165 at-bats with Colorado. The son of ex-major leaguer Eric Young, he is a product of Piscataway (N.J.) High. A speedster, his defense has regressed in the outfield.

McHugh will go to Double-A with the Rockies.

By designating Wheeler as the 26th man for Tuesday's doubleheader, the Mets now can send him out for a few days and carry another player in the interim, then bring Wheeler back for Tuesday's start against the Chicago White Sox. The Mets debated where to send Wheeler -- and also considered St. Lucie and Brooklyn -- but determined throwing a bullpen session for St. Claire with Vegas would be the best option.

Wheeler is only permitted to be with the team 24 hours before his Tuesday return.

Brown was hitting .346 with seven homers and 41 RBIs with Triple-A Las Vegas. He likely would have been up during earlier opportunities, but had just returned from an oblique injury with the 51s.

Cowgill was 2-for-9 during Tuesday's doubleheader, upping his major league average to .180 this season.

ATLANTA -- Chipper Jones sat alongside Zack Wheeler’s parents in the second row behind home plate.

Jerry Seinfeld tweeted: “Wheeler!!!!!”

Yes, this was a big deal.

Making his major league debut in a stadium 30 miles from his home of Dallas, Ga., Wheeler overcame early control issues to toss six scoreless innings against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.

His final line: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 BB, 7 K, 102 pitches (55 for strikes).

Wheeler qualified for the win after Josh Satin singled and Anthony Recker belted a two-run homer against Paul Maholm to break a scoreless tie in the top of the seventh.

The New York Mets swept the NL East-leading Braves in a day-night doubleheader with a 6-1 nightcap victory.

Wheeler became the third starting pitcher in franchise history to earn the win in his MLB debut while tossing six or more scoreless innings, joining Masato Yoshii (1998) and Dick Rusteck (1966).

The performance capped an uplifting day that included Matt Harvey taking a no-hit bid into the seventh inning in the 4-3 matinee victory.

Harvey’s line in his MLB debut, for the record: 5.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 11 K against the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 26, 2012.

Tweeted Dwight Gooden: "Today after watching @MattHarvey33 & @Wheelerpro45 it looks like the @Mets could have the best one-two punch in @MLB for years to come!!"

The 23-year-old Wheeler undoubtedly experienced early jitters. He walked Andrelton Simmons, the first batter he faced, then earned a mound visit from David Wright after falling behind No. 2 hitter Jason Heyward, 2-0.

Wheeler rallied to strike out Heyward with a 97-mph, full-count fastball.

He walked Freddie Freeman on four pitches later in the first, earning a visit from pitching coach Dan Warthen as well. Wheeler ultimately retired B.J. Upton on a fielder’s choice grounder to escape unscathed from a 23-pitch first inning.

Sore subject: Scott Atchison, in his return from the disabled list, never threw an official pitch.

Atchison was summoned to start the bottom of the seventh inning after Wheeler departed. He lasted one warm-up pitch. At least it was not an elbow problem.

Atchison clutched his groin after his first warm-up pitch, received a mound visit from trainer Ray Ramirez and departed. Warthen summoned Brandon Lyon to replace him. The team subsequently announced Atchison had a sore right groin.

Lyon surrendered two hits and a sacrifice fly to Justin Upton as Atlanta pulled within 2-1, but the Mets answered with four runs the following half-inning thanks in part to sloppy Braves fielding.

Round number: Wright recorded his 1,500th career hit. He is the 30th active player to reach that milestone.

What’s next: Shaun Marcum (0-8, 5.43 ERA), still in search of his first Mets win, opposes right-hander Kris Medlen (3-7, 3.09) at 7:10 p.m. Wednesday.

ATLANTA -- First-round pick Dominic Smith could officially be on board with the Mets by the end of the day, multiple sources told ESPNNewYork.com.

"It's in the process of being finalized --hopefully today," one insider said.

Smith, a 17-year-old high school first baseman from Los Angeles, is expected to open his professional career in the Gulf Coast League, which is based in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

The MLB recommended amount for the 11th overall pick is $2.84 million.

ATLANTA -- Here is the lineup as Zack Wheeler makes his major league debut at 7:10 p.m. at Turner Field.

Mets
Collin Cowgill, lf
Daniel Murphy, 2b
David Wright, 3b
Marlon Byrd, rf
Josh Satin, 1b
Anthony Recker, c
Juan Lagares, cf
Omar Quintanilla, ss
Zack Wheeler, rhp

Braves
Andrelton Simmons, ss
Jason Heyward, rf
Justin Upton, lf
Freddie Freeman, 1b
B.J. Upton, cf
Brian McCann, c
Dan Uggla, 2b
Chris Johnson, 3b
Paul Maholm, lhp

Matt Harvey reached 100.1 MPH on Tuesday - fastest pitch thrown by a starter this season

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 18, 2013

ATLANTA -- Matt Harvey believed he might be on track for the second no-hitter in franchise history. That is, until Jason Heyward produced an infield single up the first-base line to lead off the seventh inning.

After the game, though, Harvey was just thankful the Mets had held on for a 4-3 win against the Atlanta Braves. And he was upset at himself for taking the mound for the eighth inning.

"It's definitely one of those games where I definitely thought it was possible a little bit more than other ones because I was striking out a lot of guys and they weren't putting the ball in the outfield too often," Harvey said about a no-hit bit. "Any time that's going on then you think in the back of your mind, 'This is possible.'"

Harvey twice before this season had flirted with a no-hitter -- at Minnesota on April 13, then against the Chicago White Sox at Citi Field on May 7. The latter was broken up by Alex Rios' two-out single in the seventh.

Asked if this afternoon's felt the worst to see broken up because it came on a trickler up the first-base line, Harvey said: "No, no. The game with Chicago it was a seeing-eye single in the infield."

Still, he added: "I definitely don't want to get used to that."

Harvey ended up departing after loading the bases with none out in the eighth and the Mets leading 4-0. All three runners ended up scoring before Bobby Parnell entered to quell the threat.

(Read full post)

ATLANTA -- The bar has been set pretty high for Zack Wheeler in the nightcap of a celebrated doubleheader.

Hopefully Mets fans will convince themselves to uncover their eyes and watch.

Matt Harvey carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning before surrendering a leadoff infield single to Jason Heyward. The Mets eventually hung on by the skin of their teeth to beat the Atlanta Braves 4-3 on Tuesday afternoon at Turner Field.

Bobby Parnell inherited the bases loaded with two outs in the eighth inning with the Mets clinging to a one-run lead and struck out Chris Johnson.

Parnell ultimately produced the first legitimate multi-inning save of his career when he returned and posted a scoreless ninth. Parnell also was credited with a save for pitching the final three innings of a 9-0 rout on Aug. 5, 2009, against St. Louis.

Harvey -- who topped out at 100 mph -- produced a career-high 13 strikeouts, including six straight in the middle innings. It marked his sixth career double-digit strikeout game. He is the youngest Mets pitcher to reach that strikeout total since Dwight Gooden.

A victim of paltry run support this season, Harvey (6-1) won for only the second time since April 19.

He looked perturbed with how the no-hit bid ended.

Heyward hit a tapper to the right side of the infield grass, which Harvey fielded. Newly anointed first baseman Lucas Duda also broke for the ball rather than reading that Harvey would field it and retreating to the base. So Harvey ended up flipping the ball to an unattended first base for what became an infield single.

Harvey departed with the Mets leading 4-0, the bases loaded and none out in the eighth -- with his pitch count at 116 and having surrendered three hits.

LaTroy Hawkins -- making his 900th career appearance, matching Arthur Rhodes for 23rd all time -- entered and struck out pinch-hitter Brian McCann. Hawkins then surrendered a two-run single to Jordan Schafer as Atlanta pulled within 4-2. Justin Upton followed by grounding into a fielder's choice.

With runners on the corners and two outs, Scott Rice entered and surrendered a run-scoring double to Heyward off the glove of Duda at first base and into right field.

So, after an intentional walk reloaded the bases, Terry Collins finally turned to Parnell, who struck out Johnson and ended the three-run frame.

At least the Mets gave Harvey some runs with which to work.

The Mets opened the scoring in the third, when Marlon Byrd beat out a two-out infield single to third base and Daniel Murphy aggressively hustled home from second base.

John Buck added a solo homer an inning later against left-hander Alex Wood, who was making his first major league start. Buck retook sole possession of the team lead with his 12th homer, breaking a tie with Byrd and Duda. Buck had not gone deep since May 24, against Atlanta's Kris Medlen at Citi Field.

Jordany Valdespin’s bases-loaded walk and Omar Quintanilla’s sacrifice fly in the eighth pushed the lead to 4-0.

Q rating: Quintanilla snapped an 0-for-22 skid with a seventh-inning single.

What’s next: Wheeler makes his major league debut in the 7:10 p.m. nightcap opposite veteran left-hander Paul Maholm (7-5, 3.65 ERA). After posting a 5.70 ERA in his first five starts with Triple-A Las Vegas this season, Wheeler had a 2.98 ERA in his next eight starts with the 51s before the promotion.

ATLANTA -- During a Tuesday visit to Samsel Upper Elementary School in Parlin, N.J., Gov. Chris Christie pledged his allegiance to the Mets while acknowledging the team stinks.

After noting he roots for the NBA's Knicks, Christie said: "My favorite baseball team is the New York Mets," which was met with a mixed reaction from the schoolchildren.

"See, now, these are probably Yankees fans, right, that are booing," Christie continued. "Are those Yankees fans that are booing?

"OK, here's what I don't understand about Yankees fans: The Mets stink. We're awful. And the Yankees are usually really good. So why do you boo us? You should feel badly for us. We root for this awful team that never wins and yet the Yankees fans boo us. I don't understand that."

Christie, for the record, also roots for the Dallas Cowboys and New York Rangers.

ATLANTA -- The Mets plan to temporarily demote Zack Wheeler to the minors after tonight's start, then officially re-promote him Tuesday for his next scheduled start at the Chicago White Sox.

Because Wheeler is technically the Mets' 26th player for today's doubleheader, they can demote him after today's game without the requirement he spend 10 days in the minors before returning applying. No option will be burned by Wheeler's procedural, temporary minor league assignment.

That also means Wheeler will not collect MLB service time between starts, further ensuring he will not qualify for an extra year of arbitration as a Super 2.

Wheeler will not be allowed to be with the Mets between starts, although sending him to Las Vegas would not appear sensible.

ATLANTA -- The Mets officially placed Justin Turner on the disabled list with a strained intercostal muscle on his left side, activated Scott Atchison from the DL and promoted Zack Wheeler.

The team is allowed to carry 26 players for the doubleheader, but will have to shed a pitcher before Wednesday's game.

There are currently 14 pitchers (six starters and eight relievers) as well as 12 position players active.

The Mets have only four bench players at this point, and Terry Collins intimated that team officials prefer to stay that way through a midweek interleague series next week at the Chicago White Sox, since bench players won't be as necessary in the American League ballpark anyway.

The Mets are using a six-man rotation for the time being, so having a five-man bench after today would mean only having six relievers.

Turner received a cortisone injection during an examination Monday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan.

ATLANTA -- Scott Atchison has rejoined the Mets for the first time since experiencing numbness in the fingers on his pitching hand during a May 13 appearance at St. Louis.

Atchison, 37, had his rehab interrupted for a week when the issue -- related to a bone spur pressing on a nerve in his elbow -- flared up after appearances with Class A St. Lucie. He sought opinions from team doctor David Altchek as well as Dr. James Andrews. The issue seemed to calm when he resumed his rehab appearance with Double-A Binghamton.

"I wasn't feeling anything when I was throwing. I was feeling stuff after I was throwing," Atchison said Tuesday morning. "We stopped to kind of get a second opinion, make sure mostly that I wasn't doing any kind of permanent damage to the nerve, and [learn] why it was not happening when I'm throwing and then I catch a little bit of it.

"Just after talking to Andrews, he reiterated what Altchek said. He's like, 'You've got some swelling. When it swells, it maybe causes you to get some of that. As long as you keep the swelling down, the bigger thing is you're not doing any long-term damage to the nerve. You won't sever the nerve.'

"It's gone away," Atchison continued. "You might have a moment here and there where you feel something during the day or whatever. But he's like, 'You should be fine.'"

Atchison may need to get the bone spur removed after the season, but for now it seems "manageable."

"I got varying opinions on that," Atchison said about the need for offseason sugery. "It almost was, 'See where you are at the end of the year. If it's bothering you at the end of the year and you feel like you pitched through something, then that's probably a good idea.' But I also got told that if it feels good and you're not having any problems with it, then there's probably no reason to take it out."

Atchison is relieved. When he left St. Louis after the May 13 appearance, there was the concern Tommy John surgery might be necessary. That was a debate last year, before Atchison decided to skip the procedure, rehab for two months and then return with the Boston Red Sox in September.

"Both doctors seem to think that my ligament was actually in pretty good shape," Atchison said. "Whatever I was told last year -- they looked at a different MRI -- so maybe it was a better picture [this time]. But they said the ligament looks a lot better than they were expecting."

The Mets can carry 26 players for today's doubleheader. Terry Collins said Monday he expected Atchison and Zack Wheeler to be activated and Justin Turner (intercostal strain) to land on the DL.

ATLANTA -- Here is the lineup for the 1:10 p.m. matinee of a split doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves.

With last night's rain-delayed game officially having ended at 1:22 a.m., the Mets and Braves are poised to become the first teams to have three games completed on the same calendar date since the Cincinnati Reds on Aug. 23, 1996. That day, the Reds finished a game in Atlanta at 1:47 a.m., then played a doubleheader in Miami.

Atlanta is using rookie left-hander Alex Wood as a spot starter in Game 1. The Braves become the last team in MLB to use a sixth starting pitcher this season. The last time Atlanta had gone this deep into a season without using six starters came in 2000, when they reached Game No. 90 before deviating from a rotation of Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Kevin Millwood, Terry Mulholland and John Burkett.

In the nightcap, by the way, Zack Wheeler (DOB: May 30, 1990) will become the first player born in the 1990s to appear in the majors with the Mets.

Mets
Collin Cowgill, lf
Daniel Murphy, 2b
David Wright, 3b
Marlon Byrd, rf
Lucas Duda, 1b
John Buck, c
Juan Lagares, cf
Omar Quintanilla, ss
Matt Harvey, rhp

Braves
Jordan Schafer, cf
Reed Johnson, lf
Jason Heyward, rf
Freddie Freeman, 3b
Chris Johnson, 3b
Gerald Laird, c
Dan Uggla, 2b
Andrelton Simmons, ss
Alex Wood, lhp

Atlanta placed catching phenom Evan Gattis on the disabled list with a right oblique strain. With the teams allowed to carry 26 players for the doubleheader, the Braves added infielder Tyler Pastornicky and right-hander Cory Rasmus.