The New York Mets (44-53) will take the field early today at Citi Field, in a 12:05 matinee against the National League East leading Atlanta Braves (57-44) in the fourth and final game of a long series. The game can be live streamed here; Mets fans can listen to the game on 101.9 WFAN FM, while Atlanta fans can do the same on 93.7 FM.
The Braves will be trying to shake off the horror of Tim Hudson's gruesome ankle injury last night, which he broke while covering first base on a routine groundout by Mets outfielder Eric Young Jr.
Young hustled through the base, completely stepping on Hudson's ankle and pushing it down. Hudson fell to the ground and required a stretcher to exit the field. The ankle was diagnosed as broken and will need season-ending surgery. The Braves were down following the injury, and will miss his leadership in the locker room.
"It's terrible. That's a big blow," said Braves second baseman Dan Uggla.
As they lost a grizzled veteran, they will send a youngster to the hill today in Alex Wood (0-2, 2.45 ERA) who has logged 22 major league innings in his career. In Wood's first and only previous start, he was charged with a loss against these same Mets.
"It's his second start in the big leagues," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez told the team's official website. "I think this will be a little more comfortable start."
The Mets will counter with their own rookie Zack Wheeler (3-1, 3.58 ERA). Mets fans expecting a carbon copy of Matt Harvey are likely disappointed by Wheeler so far, but for a rookie he has done quite well. Wheeler has shown flashes of utter brilliance, and showcased his frontline stuff at times; in other spots he has been very hittable.
"You're in the big leagues, you want consistency," Wheeler said. "You're a starting pitcher, you want consistency."
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