Mets, Braves Set July 29 Game 1 Lineups for 1:10 PM ET First Pitch

Q: Can AJ Smith-Shawver's surgically repaired elbow survive the immense pressure of his highly anticipated major-league return?

It is too early to say, but the early signs are encouraging and Atlanta is clearly betting that AJ Smith-Shawver is ready for this step. His return against the Mets is his first major-league start since tearing his right UCL on May 29, 2025 and undergoing internal-brace/Tommy John-type elbow surgery. The Braves did not rush him blindly. He built up through five rehab starts at Single-A and Triple-A, posting a 1.53 ERA over 17 2/3 innings, with strong strikeout-to-walk numbers and no major setbacks reported. In his latest Triple-A outing, his four-seam fastball averaged 97.5 mph, which is actually above the 95.6 mph average he showed in his nine Braves starts last year. That said, surviving “immense pressure” is not just about one sharp rehab line or radar-gun reading. The key test is durability over multiple outings. Smith-Shawver did not complete five innings in any rehab start, topping out at 86 pitches, so Atlanta is still in the monitoring phase. The repaired elbow may be sound enough for a return, but it has not yet been proven under full major-league workload over time. What works in his favor is that he was effective before the injury, posting a 2.33 ERA through his first seven starts in 2025, and the Braves can manage him carefully because they still have Chris Sale and other rotation options. The most evidence-based answer is that his elbow appears strong enough for a comeback debut, but whether it holds up through the stretch run remains unanswered.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 29

1:10 p.m. ET is the scheduled first pitch for Mets-Braves Game 1 on July 29, with SNY carrying the TV broadcast and Audacy Mets Radio airing it on WHSQ 880 AM, the Audacy app and 92.3 HD2.
Sean Manaea starts for New York against right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver for Atlanta, setting up the pitching matchup for the opener.
A.J. Ewing leads off in center for the Mets ahead of Francisco Lindor and Bo Bichette, while Francisco Alvarez catches and Brett Baty starts at second base.
Ronald Acuna tops the Braves lineup in right field, followed by Drake Baldwin at DH, with Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley anchoring the middle of the order.