\n<\/aside>\nATLANTA \u2014 Ahead of the most important weekend of the Mets’ season, here is a look at four keys that could decide their series against the Braves \u2014 and the NL East:<\/p>\n
Mets’ aces’ ceilings vs. Braves’ aces’ seasons<\/h2>\n There is not a better potential 1-2 in baseball than Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer.<\/p>\n
There might not have been a better actual 1-2 in baseball in 2022 than Max Fried and Kyle Wright.<\/p>\n
DeGrom and Scherzer, with a combined 24 years of big league experience and five Cy Young awards, have been as dominant as advertised \u2014 when they pitch. Both have missed significant time because of injuries, and neither qualifies for the ERA title.<\/p>\n
The 28-year-old Fried (2.50) and 26-year-old Wright (3.18) have the fourth-best and 13th-best ERAs, respectively, in the league. They have made 29 starts apiece and have been excellent, flanked until recently by rookie Spencer Strider, who is out with an oblique injury, but hopes to return in the postseason.<\/p>\n
Will the Mets aces’ careers or the Braves aces’ campaigns prove more important?<\/p>\nJacob deGrom and Max Fried<\/figcaption>AP; USA TODAY Sports<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhich offensive approach will work better?<\/h2>\n Putting the ball in play will be a challenge. The Mets’ staff has struck out 1,504 hitters this season, the most in baseball. A close No. 2? The Braves, with 1,503.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/aside>\nTo counter the many expected Ks, will the Mets’ contact-oriented attack or the Braves’ power matter more?<\/p>\n
The Mets’ .332 on-base percentage trails only the Dodgers’ .334. The Mets excel at making contact and clawing their way to first base.<\/p>\n
The Braves’ 234 home runs this season are second only to the Yankees’ 243. The power comes from everywhere: Eight Atlanta hitters have swatted at least 15 home runs.<\/p>\n
Both approaches work \u2014 the Mets and Braves are fourth and third, respectively, in runs scored \u2014 but they will be tested against top-shelf pitching.<\/p>\n
Can the Mets’ big bats stay hot?<\/h2>\n With Starling Marte injured, Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor have heated up at the right time.<\/p>\n
Alonso has homered in three of his past four games \u2014 and nine times in September \u2014 and has tallied 10 RBIs in that span, giving him the most in the majors. The first baseman has posted a .924 OPS this month, lifting a lineup that has not been deep recently.<\/p>\n