3 reasons the Mets shouldn't fear the Braves

3) NY Mets have much better overall depth

The Braves starting lineup is better than what the Mets can put out there. However, when it comes to depth, New York has the advantage.

This includes bats on the bench, starting pitcher options behind the number one guy, and even those on the 40-man roster currently not with the team. The Braves are a very top-heavy team led by MVP candidate Austin Riley. They still do have some massive holes. Marcell Ozuna is a limited DH option not having a particularly good year. Second base is a spot they’re hoping Vaughn Grissom can fill.

It’s beyond those starting nine when things get ugly. While the Mets have guys like Daniel Vogelbach, Darin Ruf, Tyler Naquin, and Luis Guillorme who can perform well in the right situation, the Braves appear to have bodies only there to start in place of and not for the purposes of actually performing well.

Depth will help a team in the long run a little more than it does down the stretch of a season. In a specific game, however, a smart manager can make it matter a whole lot more.

We have seen Buck Showalter empty out the bench as needed. Despite the presence of a DH, the Mets still have a regular need to pinch hit for guys. Most notably, it’s the catcher spot that will probably get lifted regularly.

In a game that becomes a chess match, the Mets seem to have a board full of knights, bishops, and rooks. The Braves have them too, but there are a few too many pawns by comparison.