The Atlanta Braves are set to take on the New York Mets in a three-game set beginning tonight at Truist Park. It’s a sneaky critical matchup because — if there’s any chance the Braves are to make the postseason — they have to sweep the Mets this weekend.

That makes this decision especially intriguing. Yesterday, the Braves picked up Cal Quantrill off the waiver wire. Certainly not the sexiest acquisition, as Quantrill boasts a 5.50 ERA this season over 24 starts, and the repertoire is just as uninspiring as the numbers. But with that move, somebody in the rotation had to get the boot, and it looks like that guy might be Spencer Strider.

Strider last pitched on Tuesday, giving up seven earned runs on 10 hits in just three innings against the White Sox. The outing bloated his August ERA all the way up to 15.43, as he continues to struggle in his first season back since InternalBrace surgery. He would have been in line to pitch in the series finale on Sunday, but instead it will be Bryce Elder, with Cal Quantrill making his Braves debut on Saturday.

Braves vs. Mets Probables

• Friday: Nolan McLean vs. Joey Wentz
• Saturday: Clay Holmes vs. Cal Quantrill
• Sunday: David Peterson vs. Bryce Elder

It will be fascinating to see how the Braves line up their pitching in the upcoming series against the Marlins. Maybe they’re toying with a six-man rotation. Maybe Spencer Strider is simply being given extra rest to regroup. Or, it’s possible the team could be considering shutting him down altogether.

Whatever the reasoning, it’s telling that the Braves are choosing not to use Strider in a crucial home series against a division rival with their postseason hopes hanging by a thread.

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