Despite Spencer Schwellenbach putting in another great performance for the Atlanta Braves against the New York Mets, Atlanta’s bullpen chose the worst possible time during this regular season to deliver one of their worst performances of the season. A 3-0 lead for the Braves after seven innings turned into a disastrous 8-7 loss.

This game started with Spencer Schwellenbach starting out the way he wanted to end – meaning he took out the Mets to get started as it certainly looked like he was ready to pick up exactly where he was against this team last season stayed. Schwellenbach wouldn’t give up a hit until the third inning, when Tyrone Taylor broke through with a broken ball (no, not a bat) infield single that curved back into fair territory after making an error. Taylor then immediately stole second base and finished on third base with one out. Fortunately, Schwellenbach connected on two more grounders to end the inning and end the scoring threat.

Atlanta’s lineup responded to Schwellenbach’s huge run by getting things going in the next frame. Michael Harris II led off the third with a single, which brought in Ozzie Albies with Harris on first. Ozzie has been especially humbling to watch at the plate since his return, but this time he was the one who struck fear in the hearts of the opposing pitcher. Tylor Megill threw Albies a hanging slider and despite the matchup being right-on-right, Ozzie didn’t miss it and sent it into the left-center seats for a huge two-run home run. Atlanta sent seven batters to the plate in the third inning and while those two runs were the only runs they scored in that frame, that was enough for Spencer Schwellenbach to work with.

The Mets wouldn’t threaten again until the fifth inning, when Pete Alonso and JD Martinez combined to hit back-to-back singles to start the fifth inning. While Schwellenbach was able to strike out Tyrone Taylor to get an out on the board, Francisco Alvarez delivered a productive out to put both runners in scoring position. After a quick meeting on the mound, Schwellenbach tagged in and got Harrison Bader to ground out to eliminate another scoring opportunity for the Mets.

We wouldn’t see any more serious action until the sixth inning. Tylor Megill was there for his third trip through the order and fortunately for the Braves, Ramón Laureano was able to make him pay for his third trip through the order by hitting a home run to deep center field to push the lead to 3. -0. Atlanta ended the inning with two men on base, but most importantly, Laureano was able to extend the lead while also driving Megill out of the game.

Spencer Schwellenbach got through seven innings and was out again for the eighth inning, but a leadoff double after an eleven-pitch battle with Tyrone Taylor ended his day and it was time for Joe Jiménez to make sure Taylor was on the second place remained stranded. That didn’t happen, as Francisco Alvarez rudely welcomed Jiménez to the game by hitting a soft grounder down the third base line, setting up a double that put the Mets on the board. Pinch-hitter Starling Marte followed that up with a single to put runners on the corners, then Francisco Lindor hit one up the middle to make it a one-run game while making a rough outing for Joe Jiménez closed. Spencer Schwellenbach’s brilliant start was suddenly in doubt, which was a shame as he came into today with a big lead.

That meant it was up to Raisel Iglesias to make another six-out save. Iglesias couldn’t stop the bleeding, as Jose Iglesias kept New York’s line going by poking a single into the opposite field, tying the game at three runs apiece. The first out came at a price, as Mark Vientos hit a sacrifice fly to give the Mets the lead for the first time all day. Then it turned into a total collapse for the bullpen when Brandon Nimmo hit a home run, sparking a six-run inning for the Mets with just one out.

Obviously Iglesias was done after that, but shockingly the Braves weren’t done yet. Once Atlanta got going, it was time to find a way to dig themselves out of a three-run hole. After the Mets made some changes, Phil Maton was the pitcher for New York to start the eighth and he immediately got things going for Atlanta by hitting Eli White with a pitch. Travis d’Arnaud moved him to third with a one-out single, putting runners on the corners with only one out, and Carlos Mendoza decided to follow Brian Snitker’s lead by bringing in his closer in the eighth inning .

Edwin Díaz came into the game looking to close things out, but Jarred Kelenic threw a wrench into those plans by hitting an RBI infield single that cut the deficit to just two runs. Whit Merrifield entered the game as a pinch-runner and stole second base, then was joined on the basepaths by Michael Harris II on a walk. That put Ozzie Albies on the board against Díaz and after a 3-1 count, Ozzie hit a fly ball that landed at the foot of the wall in left field. Travis d’Arnaud scored. Whit Merrifield scored. Michael Harris II scored and Harris’ run made it a 7-6 game in favor of the Braves as Truist Park went into orbit.

With both Jiménez and Iglesias ready for the match, it meant it was up to Pierce Johnson to wrap things up. Pierce got the first out, but then Starling Marte led off with a single, which was followed by Francisco Lindor hitting a home run to give the Mets the lead again. The homer was the only thing Johnson ultimately gave up, but the onus was once again placed on this offense to deliver some more late-game magic after the bullpen collapse extended into another inning.

The Braves gave a good shot in the bottom of the ninth, as Eli White singled with one out and then stole second base to get into scoring position. Unfortunately, Ramón Laureano couldn’t get anything else going, then Travis d’Arnaud grounded out to ensure the Mets would advance to the Postseason.

As insane as that game was, that still doesn’t change the formula for clinching a Postseason spot as far as the Braves are concerned. They absolutely need to win one more game today and they will bring in Chris Sale to help them get to the Postseason. It all comes down to this one final match and it comes just moments after the most insane match of the season so far.