• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Smoltz makes debut vs. Santana, Mets

Apr 6, 2008 - 1:33 PM NY Mets (2-2) at Atlanta (2-3) 1:35 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) - The New York Mets don't plan on making John Smoltz's season debut very easy.

Smoltz returns to the mound for the Braves on Sunday when they face Johan Santana and the Mets in the finale of an abbreviated two-game set.

Friday's series opener was postponed, but it only gave Atlanta's offense more time to collect itself, posting its third-double digit run total of the season in Saturday's 11-5 win over the Mets. Kelly Johnson hit a pinch-hit grand slam and Jeff Francoeur added three RBI in the rout.

Smoltz, who went 14-8 with a 3.11 ERA last season, was hampered by right shoulder inflammation in spring training and began the season on the disabled list.

Instead of sending him out against the Rockies on what figures to be a cold day in Colorado on Monday, Atlanta figured to send out its ace in more favorable weather conditions.

However, the competition doesn't figure to give him much of a break.

The Mets will counter with Santana (1-0, 2.57 ERA), who allowed two runs and three hits with eight strikeouts over seven innings in Monday's season-opening 7-2 win at Florida. The lefthander will need to be on top of his game against a Braves' lineup that is averaging 7.4 runs.