The desperate New York Mets continue their three-game series against the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves with the finale of the series Wednesday evening inside Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. They toss out the first pitch at 7:20 pm. The Braves snapped their two-game slide with a 3-2 win on Tuesday night. New York was held to just five hits in the loss. The Braves are -177 in Wednesday's finale. 

The Mets (59-68) have picked the right time to show some signs of life, but is it enough to push them over the top and earn a berth as an NL Wildcard. The odds would say no! But, we like the way they have been playing of late, and they have been doing it with their pitching. They had won five of six overall before Tuesday's setback. 

Against the St. Louis Cardinals, New York's starting pitching allowed just eight runs in four games as the Mets got the rare four-game sweep. They continued that hot streak with a nice 10-4 win over these Braves on Monday night as the offense exploded for 10 runs as the Mets used the longball to get the rare win over their rival. But, it was a totally different story on Tuesday as their bats went ice cold. 

Offensively, New York is led by slugger Pete Alonso, who has clubbed a team-high 39 home runs. If the Mets were a better team perhaps Alonso would be in the mix for NL MVP, but he isn't. 

They will send out veteran journeyman Jose Quintana who takes the ball and the mound with a mark of 1-4 to go along with an ERA of 3.03 in his first season in New York. He did win his last start so he enters this game with some confidence. 

The Braves (81-44) have shown since Opening Day they have been the best team in the NL East and one can argue in the National League. They have a very stout lineup and offense and have sluggers up and down the line-up card. 

They have a staggering six players with 20 or more home runs this season, led by first baseman Matt Olson. Right now he is at +2800 at BetOnline to capture the NL MVP, while his teammate Ronald Acuna Jr. is the odds on favorite at -500. 

Both players have been able to ignite this offense all season long as the Braves have hit a total of 238 home runs while batting .274 as a team.

Atlanta is just the more steady team right now and their offense is capable of exploding every game, another reason we like them in this matchup.

Atlanta will send out 39-year-old Charlie Morton who has a record of 12-10 to go with an ERA of 3.54. He has fanned 146 hitters in 134.2 innings of work for Atlanta, which has a team ERA of 3.85 on the season. 

Atlanta is 3-2 in their last five games and 2-3 in their last five games against the number. They are also 30-30 in their road games against the spread. The totals have gone over in two of their last five games and 37 of their last 63 games at home. New York is 4-1 in their last five games and 4-1 in their last five games against the number. The totals have gone over in two of their last five games.