By CHARLES ODUM – AP Sports Writer
ATLANTA (AP) – Enjoy John Smoltz and Tom Glavine matching up against each other Saturday for the first time as starters for a game in Atlanta. It may never happen again.
“It probably will be (the only time),” Smoltz said. “I don’t know what the future holds for either of us.”
Smoltz and Glavine face off in Saturday’s second game of the weekend series between the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets. The series opened Friday night.
Glavine is beginning his fifth season with the Mets after pitching with Smoltz in Atlanta from 1988-2002. This is only the second time they have faced each other. The first time came in 2005 at Shea Stadium.
Smoltz was the Braves’ closer for the start of Glavine’s time in New York.
Smoltz and Glavine have remained close friends, and Smoltz hoped the left-hander would return to Atlanta as a free agent last winter. No offer came from the Braves, who instead focused on upgrading their bullpen.
Instead, Glavine again returns with the Mets.
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The Mets are 4-0 for the first time since 1985, when they opened the season with five straight wins for their best start ever. New York can match that start by beating the Braves on Saturday.
The way the Mets are pitching, the four wins could be the start of a big season for the defending NL East champions.
“They keep pitching like that, we’re going to be dangerous,” Reyes said.
The Mets have a 0.75 ERA and their starters have all four of their wins this season. They won their first four games, including three against St. Louis, by a combined margin of 31-3.
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With so many games against each other in the regular season, they mostly certainly can match up again, Glavine against Smoltzy. But since no one knows if it’ll happen again, gonna be a treat to watch today. Will be GREAT to see yet another win from Glavine getting him to 2-0 and the Mets to 5-0. Of course it’s a LONNNNNNNNGG way to October but nice to see ’em doin’ so well so soon! The pain from last October has finally gone away and it’s great to be lookin’ forward to this fall!
The most amazing thing about the Mets pitching is that their “ace” is not scheduled to return until the All Star Break.
Imagine if Pedro has any kind of return to form in time for the playoffs??????????
!!!!