Mets Pitcher Tobias Myers Getting Second Chance, Opening Against Reds

The New York Mets took advantage of a scuffling Atlanta Braves team over the weekend, taking two of three from the National League East division leaders, including Sunday’s rubber match 8-1.

The Mets are starting to claw its way back into relevancy, but the team is still seven games under .500 at 32-39. New York needs to keep stacking series wins to get back to and eventually over .500, so knocking off the Braves was a huge step forward.

It was all Mets in the series finale despite Atlanta’s Dominic Smith hitting a sacrifice fly in the top of the first inning to take an early lead. New York answered with four runs in the bottom half and the offense was fueled by rookie center fielder A.J. Ewing, who went 3-for-5 with a home run, double and two RBI out of the fifth spot in the lineup.

Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta pitched five solid innings of one-run ball on four hits and one walk while striking out two. Braves righty Bryce Elder was tagged for six runs on 10 hits and two walks over four innings of work, fanning two batters as well.

New York will have its hands full Monday, as the team heads to Cincinnati for a three-game series against the Reds. The Reds will send NL Cy Young candidate Chase Burns to the bump while the Mets are giving recently recalled swingman Tobias Myers a shortened start.

Burns has been lights-out in 2026 after struggling in 13 appearances last season – the 23-year-old is 7-1 with a 2.14 ERA (fourth), 0.99 WHIP (tied-sixth) and 88 strikeouts through 13 starts (75.2 innings). Pending a devastating fall-off, he's a lock for the All-Star Game on July 14.

Burns last pitched against the San Diego Padres and didn’t factor into the decision after allowing two runs on six hits and two walks with seven punchouts in 5.1 innings. Against these Mets on May 26, Burns threw 5.1 innings and allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out eight to earn his seventh win.

Myers, who was acquired alongside Peralta from the Milwaukee Brewers in the offseason, has been a swingman for manager Carlos Mendoza and got off to a fine start but struggled in May, resulting in his demotion to Triple-A Syracuse.

He was recalled to open tonight’s game, but he could go up to three innings or around 50 pitches or so before turning it over to the bullpen. Myers is 0-1 with a 4.05 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 26 strikeouts to seven walks through 20 appearances (two starts, 33.1 innings).

First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. EDT on MLB.TV and regional sports networks.