Now that the season is in full swing, the cruising Mets will face their first big challenge this weekend as the Braves come into town. Up to this point no team has really challenged the Mets, especially not the Phillies who up to this point have the "team to beat on" rather than the "team to beat".

The pitching matchups for the series look to be the following:

Friday

Tim Hudson vs. Mike Pelfrey

Saturday

Chuck James vs. Oliver Perez

Sunday

John Smoltz vs. Tom Glavine

I can't wait to go to Sunday's game to watch the masters as work.  Although I have complete faith in the Mets, this series will be a lithmus test of sorts to gauge who is truly the team to beat this year in the division. The Phillies, Marlins and Nationals have not yet proven worthy of my concern at this early point in the season, but the Braves have looked strong.  If the Mets can put the hammer down yet again in this series it will prove that for now they are the cream of the NL East crop.

Let's turn the tomahawk into a broom and sweep the Braves out of town!

The rescheduled pre-game Jackie Robinson tribute will begin tonight at 6:30.