In another season, covering every Spencer Strider would’ve been awesome. This season? More awesome in theory than in practice. Working with diminished velocity and an understandable degree of rust after a long elbow surgery-related layoff,

Less than two weeks since concluding a 3-14 stretch with their second seven-game losing streak of the season, the Braves have swept the first-place Mets, won seven of nine and put themselves back within five games of the National League’s third and final Wild Card spot.

Matt Olson hit a three-run double, Spencer Strider struck out eight in six innings and the Atlanta Braves beat the Mets 7-1 to complete a series sweep that extended New York’s season-worst losing streak to six games.