4 keys to winning the crucial Mets-Braves series in Atlanta

3. The Mets getting something out of Francisco Lindor will be a huge bonus.

The biggest question surrounding this team in the past two weeks has revolved around the health of their team MVP Francisco Lindor, who has dealt with back tightness. He did not play at all in the team's last homestand, and they said that Tuesday would be the best case scenario for a return. For the Mets, the emergence of Luisangel Acuña as a dynamic playmaker both at the plate and at shortstop has allowed the team to take Lindor's recovery more patiently.

With that in mind, the Mets have not gotten anything out of J.D. Martinez at DH over the past two weeks, and the Mets would love to get Lindor into the lineup as the designated hitter to lengthen that lineup, and put him in big spots against Atlanta's best relievers late in these games.

4. Relievers other than Edwin Diaz will be needed in key situations late in games.

Edwin Diaz looked as good as he's looked all season over the weekend against the Phillies, as he recorded a 4-out save on Saturday and a 6-out save on Sunday night. It is possible that he will be needed at least twice to finish off games against Atlanta, a team in which he's been successful against.

However, there is the possibility that Diaz would not be available for Tuesday's game to avoid the burnout of recording 10 crucial outs against some of baseball's best hitters over the weekend.

The Mets will need to get key outs from Reed Garrett, Jose Butto, and trade deadline pickups Phil Maton and Ryne Stanek, who have all been effective recently. If they can hold serve, it would signal the Mets are on their way to the playoffs.