For a second consecutive year, the Mets head into the season's final week in position for a postseason berth. Of course, they'll need to avoid duplicating their 1-6 season-ending homestand of 2007 to prevent a second straight collapse.
The Mets have four games against the Cubs and three games against the Marlins remaining, the final homestand at Shea Stadium, which is set to be demolished after the season. The Mets trail the first-place Phillies by 1 1/2 games and lead the Brewers by 1 1/2 games in the wild-card race. "We've got to close the deal at home. That's what we've got to do," interim manager Jerry Manuel said. "We've got to give Shea Stadium, hopefully, a nice sendoff. We have the opportunity. It's right in front of us."
The Mets, who lost two of three during the weekend in Atlanta, have to wait until Tuesday for stopper Johan Santana to take the mound against the Cubs. Monday's series opener goes to rookie Jon Niese in just his third major league start, as the Mets try to get by without injured John Maine.
Niese tossed eight scoreless innings against the Braves on Sept. 13 in his last appearance. He was charged with five runs in three innings in Milwaukee on Sept. 2 in his major league debut.
BRAVES 7, METS 6: Joe Smith surrendered a tiebreaking triple to Jeff Francoeur in Atlanta's four-run eighth inning as the Mets' wild-card lead was trimmed to 1 1/2 games over victorious Milwaukee. Carlos Delgado's two-run homer with one out in the ninth off Mike Gonzalez pulled the Mets within a run, but Carlos Beltran and Damion Easley struck out to end the game. The Mets went 1-8 in Atlanta this season.
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