There will be a familiar face on the mound for the New York Mets on Monday night when they open a four-game series in Atlanta against the National League East-leading Braves.
Julio Teheran, who pitched nine seasons in Atlanta, will make his debut for the Mets when he faces Atlanta right-hander Charlie Morton (1-0, 0.00).
The Braves are coming off a three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamonbacks, while New York took two of three from Cincinnati over the weekend for its first series victory of the season.
The Mets are in a bind for starting pitchers since Tylor Megill and Kodai Senga are on the injured list with shoulder strains. They signed Teheran on Friday and immediately put him into the rotation.
Teheran has spent 12 seasons in the major leagues. He made his MLB debut with Atlanta in 2011 and went 77-73 with a 3.67 ERA over 229 games (226 starts) with the Braves. He was the team’s Opening Day starter for six straight seasons and was a two-time All-Star.
After stints with the Los Angeles Angels and Detroit Tigers, Teheran pitched for Milwaukee in 2023 and went 3-5 with a 4.40 ERA in 14 games, 11 of them starts. He spent spring training with the Baltimore Orioles on a minor-league contract and pitched to a 3.38 ERA in 13 1/3 innings. After failing to make the major league team, he opted out and became a free agent.
Teheran has made two starts against the Braves, going 0-1 with an 8.18 ERA. In his most recent start against them, on July 29, 2023, while pitching for the Brewers, he allowed a career-high-tying nine runs over five innings.
Morton pitched well in his first start against the Chicago White Sox on Monday. He worked 5 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed three hits and two walks and struck out six. Morton retired the final 11 batters he faced.
“It was great. It was perfect,” said Atlanta manager Brian Snitker after the game. “Exactly what we kind of wanted for him in that first one.”
Morton was pleased by the first outing.
“I think once we get a little warmer weather and get the arm going a little bit more, then I’ll see where I’m truly at,” he said.
Morton has made 22 career appearances (21 starts) against the Mets, going 6-6 with a 3.58 ERA. He went 2-1 with a 3.27 ERA in four starts against them in 2023 and was especially impressive in two mid-August starts in which he allowed no runs over 12 combined innings.
As for the Mets, they hope Francisco Lindor’s offensive woes are ending. The veteran ended an 0-for-24 slump by going 2-for-5 with a home run in Sunday’s 3-1 win over the Reds.
“He’s such a good player, and I’m pretty confident he’ll get it going pretty soon,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said.
Meanwhile, the Mets continue to wait for the debut of J.D. Martinez, signed to a free-agent deal on March 24 without the benefit of a spring training.
Mendoza told reporters Sunday that Martinez, 36, will continue to work out at the team’s minor league complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla. It was initially thought that Martinez could join the team in Atlanta.
“We’re not going to see him in a while,” Mendoza said before the Mets’ series finale at the Reds. “He’s going to stay down in Port St. Lucie and get more at-bats.
“He’s feeling it. We knew he was going to need a lot of time. Not only with the timing and the mechanics, but overall with his body.”
The Braves made a roster move on Sunday to replace Spencer Strider, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with a sprained UCL in his right elbow. They recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett right-hander Allan Winans, who likely will take Strider’s next scheduled start on Wednesday.
Winans made six starts for the Braves last year and went 1-2 with a 5.29 ERA. The victory came against the Mets when he threw seven shutout innings with nine strikeouts on Aug. 12.
