The New York Mets shocked the baseball world with a thrilling late-inning comeback in Game 1 of a critical doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves. As the National League postseason looms, both teams are fighting for positioning, and Monday’s game demonstrated the razor-thin margins that will likely define this year's playoffs. The Mets, bolstered by clutch performances from Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo, took advantage of the Braves' bullpen struggles to pull off one of their most significant wins of the season. On the Inside Pitch podcast, hosted by Scott Sidenberg and former Major League pitcher Josh Towers, the two dissected the game’s pivotal moments, analyzed player performances, and explored what this outcome means for both teams heading into the postseason.
A Game Filled with Drama
The first game of the doubleheader showcased just how quickly momentum can shift in baseball. The Braves entered the contest in control, largely due to a stellar pitching performance by Swellenbach, who threw seven shutout innings. He was cruising with only 83 pitches by the end of the seventh inning and appeared poised to hand the game over to the bullpen with the Braves leading 3-0.
However, Braves manager Brian Snitker’s decision to pull Swellenbach after an 11-pitch at-bat that ended with a double became the catalyst for a Mets resurgence. While many managers would consider this move standard practice to preserve a young pitcher, Josh Towers on the podcast strongly disagreed with the decision. “Swellenbach was dominating, and I think he should’ve been left in to face the next batter,” Towers said. Removing a pitcher who still had gas in the tank allowed the Mets to capitalize on the Braves’ vulnerable bullpen.
What followed was a collapse that left the Braves and their fans in disbelief. The Braves bullpen, a unit that had been relatively reliable throughout the season, imploded at the worst possible time. According to Towers, every pitch thrown by the Braves' relievers seemed to miss its mark, “leaving balls up over the middle of the plate,” which the Mets hitters were quick to exploit. Towers specifically criticized the decision-making that led to pitching to Mets’ shortstop Francisco Lindor, one of the league’s hottest hitters, rather than strategically walking him in the ninth inning.
Key Player Performances: Lindor and Nimmo Lead the Way
Francisco Lindor’s performance during the game was nothing short of spectacular. He continued his hot streak with a game-winning home run in the top of the ninth inning. Lindor’s homer, which came off a poorly located first-pitch curveball, gave the Mets the lead and sent shockwaves through the Braves' dugout. Josh Towers praised Lindor for his impeccable timing and ability to make adjustments mid-game, noting that his swing on the curveball showed he had been waiting for that exact pitch. "Lindor’s been doing this for months," Towers said, highlighting how critical Lindor has been to the Mets' success.
Another standout performer for the Mets was Brandon Nimmo. The outfielder’s home run earlier in the game helped fuel the comeback. After falling behind 0-2 in the count, Nimmo was able to recover and crush a fastball that Braves reliever Raisel Iglesias left right over the heart of the plate. Nimmo’s resilience and ability to capitalize on mistakes made him a key contributor to the Mets' offensive surge. His homer not only energized the Mets' dugout but also set the stage for Lindor's late-game heroics.
For the Braves, the pitching staff's unraveling in the late innings was the story of the game. Despite an excellent start from Swellenbach, the bullpen failed to close the door. Both Josh Towers and Scott Sidenberg pointed to the poor execution of pitches as the main reason for the loss. In particular, the decision to leave Phil Matan in after several days of pitching, along with Edwin Diaz’s struggles, was highly questionable. Diaz nearly allowed Ozzie Albies to hit a grand slam, but the ball fell just short, giving the Mets a chance to seal the victory.
The Braves' Bullpen Implosion
The Braves bullpen, which had been their strength during the regular season, showed alarming signs of fatigue and vulnerability. Towers highlighted how Braves relievers, particularly Matan and Diaz, missed their locations far too often in the later innings. Every time the Braves tried to pitch around the Mets’ hitters, they found themselves leaving balls in the danger zone, and the Mets capitalized on those mistakes.
Matan’s fatigue was evident as he entered his third consecutive day of pitching. According to Towers, the decision to bring him into such a high-leverage situation was a major misstep. “You’ve got a guy who’s pitched three days in a row—of course he’s not going to have his best stuff,” Towers explained. Diaz, too, struggled with command, nearly giving up a game-breaking grand slam to Albies. Although the Braves avoided that disaster, they couldn’t stop the inevitable collapse when Lindor stepped to the plate in the ninth.
Sidenberg noted that the Braves seemed rattled after the eighth inning and questioned whether their bullpen could recover in time for the postseason. “You can’t afford to be this shaky in the playoffs,” he said, “especially when the stakes are higher, and the teams you face won’t give you second chances.” Towers echoed this sentiment, stating that the Braves need to reconsider how they handle their bullpen in pressure situations if they hope to go deep into October.
Postseason Implications: What’s Next for the Mets and Braves?
The Mets' win in Game 1 of the doubleheader was monumental for their postseason hopes. With the victory, the Mets positioned themselves to potentially earn the fifth seed in the National League, which would send them to San Diego to face the Padres. If the Mets had lost, they would have faced the Milwaukee Brewers, a matchup that Josh Towers believed would have been more favorable for New York.
Towers and Sidenberg both discussed the implications of facing the Padres versus the Brewers in the postseason. Towers argued that the Mets should prefer playing Milwaukee over San Diego. “The Padres are a much tougher team in the postseason,” Towers said, citing their deep pitching rotation, which includes aces like Dylan Cease and Joe Musgrove. He believes that the Brewers' inconsistency and lack of playoff experience make them a better matchup for the Mets.
Sidenberg, however, had a different take. He felt that San Diego's tendency to "disappear" in big games could be an advantage for the Mets. “The Padres have the big names,” Sidenberg said, “but they’ve been known to underperform when it matters most.” He also pointed out that Milwaukee’s offense has shown flashes of brilliance this season, which could make them a dangerous opponent.
Regardless of which team they face, the Mets have demonstrated that they have the resilience and firepower to compete in high-stakes games. With their offense firing on all cylinders and key players like Lindor and Nimmo stepping up, the Mets are proving to be a dangerous team heading into the postseason.
For the Braves, the loss was a humbling reminder that even the best teams can falter under pressure. Their bullpen, which had been reliable throughout the regular season, faltered when it mattered most. Towers suggested that the Braves may need to re-evaluate their bullpen management if they want to avoid similar collapses in the postseason. "You can't rely on guys who've been overworked in crucial games," he warned.
Final Thoughts
The Mets' comeback victory over the Braves in Game 1 of the doubleheader was a statement win that could define their postseason trajectory. Francisco Lindor’s game-winning home run and Brandon Nimmo’s timely hitting highlighted the Mets' ability to capitalize on their opponents' mistakes. Meanwhile, the Braves’ bullpen collapse serves as a cautionary tale for teams entering the playoffs: no lead is safe, and even the smallest mistakes can have huge consequences.
As both teams prepare for the postseason, the Mets will look to build on this momentum, while the Braves will need to find answers for their late-game struggles. With playoff berths on the line and matchups hanging in the balance, the final games of the regular season are more critical than ever. The Mets are surging at just the right time, and if they can continue this level of play, they could be a force to be reckoned with in October. On the other hand, the Braves will need to regroup quickly if they hope to avoid an early postseason exit.
In the words of Josh Towers, “What a game, what a moment for the Mets.” With the stakes only getting higher, baseball fans can expect even more drama as the season winds down.