Braves blank Mets to secure final NL playoff spot

Rookie starter Grant Holmes and five relievers combined to pitch the Atlanta Braves to a 3-0 win over the visiting New York Mets in the second game of a makeup doubleheader on Monday to secure the final National League playoff spot.

New York (89-73) won the first game of the doubleheader 8-7 to clinch a wild-card spot before Atlanta (89-73) rebounded to secure its seventh straight playoff berth.

The Mets will play at the Milwaukee Brewers in a best-of-three series starting Tuesday, while the Braves face the Padres in San Diego. Atlanta's win eliminated the Arizona Diamondbacks (89-73) from playoff contention.

The Braves had planned to start Cy Young favorite Chris Sale in the second game, but he was scratched because of back spasms. That forced Atlanta to use Holmes, who had been announced as the starter if the Braves had won the first game.

Holmes responded by pitching four-plus scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk with seven strikeouts. He retired the first 12 batters he faced before Pete Alonso singled and Starling Marte walked to lead off the fifth with New York trailing 1-0.

Daysbel Hernandez (3-0) relieved Holmes and escaped the fifth with two strikeouts and a groundout. Hernandez got two more outs in the sixth before Dylan Lee retired Alonso with runners on first and third to end the threat.

Reynaldo Lopez, Joe Jimenez and Raisel Iglesias each pitched an inning to finish off the Braves' league-leading 17th shutout. Iglesias notched his 34th save.

By winning the first game, the Mets were able to save starter Luis Severino for the wild-card opener. New York started left-hander Joey Lucchesi, who had been promoted from Triple-A Syracuse earlier in the day. Lucchesi had made one appearance for the Mets all season.

Lucchesi (0-2) saved the Mets bullpen by going six innings and allowing one run on three hits, four walks and five strikeouts on 111 pitches.

Jorge Soler's double leading off the second inning helped the Braves score their first run. Soler advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Gio Urshela's one-out single.

Atlanta upped the lead to 3-0 off reliever Huascar Brazoban in the seventh when Marcell Ozuna lined a two-run single into left field with two outs.

--Field Level Media