The Atlanta Braves host the New York Mets at Truist Park on Monday, July 6, with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 PM ET. Reynaldo López takes the ball for Atlanta against New York's Freddy Peralta in what figures to be a pitching-forward NL East divisional contest. Every game against a division rival carries weight at this stage of the season, and a Mets club that has consistently pushed Atlanta over recent years makes this one worth circling on the calendar.
Probable Pitching Matchup: Reynaldo López vs. Freddy Peralta
Reynaldo López gets the nod for the Braves. The right-hander has shown the ability to generate whiffs and work deep into games, and Atlanta will be counting on him to set the tone early against a Mets lineup that never takes a night off. How López commands the strike zone against New York's patient hitters will be the central question on the pitching side.
On the other side, Freddy Peralta brings his own legitimate arm to the mound for the Mets. Peralta has the kind of stuff that can make a lineup look uncomfortable in a hurry. Braves hitters will need to work counts and look for their pitches rather than chasing his secondary offerings out of the zone. Plate discipline will be at a premium against Peralta.
Keys to Watch for Atlanta
- López's command early: Getting ahead in counts against the Mets will be critical. If López is locating his fastball and mixing his secondary pitches effectively through the first three innings, Atlanta is in good shape.
- Braves offense vs. Peralta: Working deep counts and getting on base will open up the offense. Atlanta needs to avoid chasing pitches out of the zone and make Peralta earn every out.
- Bullpen management: July divisional games can hinge on how both benches deploy their relief arms in the middle innings. The Braves' ability to bridge from López to the back end of the bullpen cleanly could be decisive.
- Home crowd advantage: Truist Park is a factor. The Braves play well at home and the crowd can shift momentum, especially late in a tight game.
How to Watch and Listen
The game can be seen locally on BravesVision and on SNY for Mets-market viewers. Radio coverage is available on 680 AM and 93.7 FM The Fan in Atlanta, with Spanish-language coverage on Los Bravos. Mets fans can tune into Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM or the Audacy App at 92.3 HD2 in Spanish.
Prediction
This is exactly the kind of mid-summer divisional game that separates the teams who talk about competing from the ones who actually do it. López has the talent to keep the Mets off the board long enough for Atlanta's lineup to get to Peralta. Give the edge to the Braves at home, where Truist Park should be loud and engaged for a July Monday night showdown against a division rival. Braves 4, Mets 2.
