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Mets and Braves play rubber game on Sunday

Apr 8, 2007 - 3:17 PM NY Mets (4-1) at Atlanta (4-1) 1:05 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- The New York Mets or the Atlanta Braves will stand alone in first place in the National League East after the first week of the season.

The Mets and Braves face off in the rubber game of a three-game series at Turner Field with the winner moving into sole possession of first place.

The Braves snapped New York's season-opening four-game winning streak with a 5-3 victory on Saturday as John Smoltz got the better of good friend Tom Glavine.

Orlando Hernandez (1-0) starts for the Mets on Sunday. He allowed just one run in seven innings in a win at St. Louis last Tuesday. He is 3-1 in five career starts against Atlanta as a member of the Mets.

Hernandez is 4-0 with a 0.67 ERA at Turner Field, including a win in Game One of the 1999 World Series for the New York Yankees.

Atlanta will counter with 23-year-old righthander Kyle Davies, who was recalled by the Braves from Class AAA Richmond after Lance Cormier suffered a strained triceps.

Davies owns a 3-2 record in seven games, including six starts, against New York with a 4.54 ERA.

The Mets won the NL East last season, ending a string of 14 straight division titles for the Braves.