The Mets didn't wait around. New York plated 5 in the first inning and tacked on 1 more in the second before Atlanta had recorded more than a handful of outs, and that was effectively the ballgame. The Braves clawed back with 2 in the fourth and 1 in the fifth to make it interesting, but New York's bullpen — shorthanded as it is — closed the door, and an insurance run in the ninth put it away, 8-5.
This is exactly the kind of win the Mets needed given the season they're having. At 52-67 they're not sniffing a playoff race, but they've won 4 of their last 5, including a 3-game gauntlet through Pittsburgh that ended with an 11-1 blowout. The Braves, meanwhile, sit at 71-47 and are still very much alive atop the division, but a game like this — dropping a series opener at home to a losing club — is the kind of stumble they can't afford to make a habit of.
- 10-Day-ILJuan Soto (LF) — The Mets placed Soto (calf) on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a strained left calf.07/25
- 10-Day-ILMark Vientos (1B) — Mets interim manager Andy Green said Thursday that Vientos has been diagnosed with a fractured right hand and will be placed on the 10-day injured list, Chelsea Janes of SNY.tv reports.07/10
- 15-Day-ILDevin Williams (RP) — The Mets placed Williams on the 15-day injured list Monday due to a right shoulder strain.08/10
- 15-Day-ILCionel Perez (RP) — The Mets placed Perez on the 15-day injured list Friday with a left forearm strain.07/31
- 15-Day-ILAustin Warren (RP)
- 60-Day-ILJustin Hagenman (RP) — The Mets announced June 1 that Hagenman (rib) has yet to resume a throwing program, MLB.com reports.07/13
- 60-Day-ILReed Garrett (RP) — The Mets placed Garrett (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILTylor Megill (SP) — The Mets placed Megill (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.05/08
- 15-Day-ILRobert Suarez (RP) — Suarez (forearm) has yet to increase the intensity of his throwing program as Atlanta takes a cautious approach with his recovery, Gabriel Burns of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.08/06
- 15-Day-ILReynaldo Lopez (RP) — Lopez (knee) underwent an MRI on Sunday that showed no structural damage, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.08/02
- suspensionJurickson Profar (LF) — Profar will miss the full 2026 season after the appeal of his 162-game PED suspension was denied Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.05/08
- 60-Day-ILSpencer Schwellenbach (SP) — Schwellenbach (elbow) was present in Atlanta on Monday to continue his rehab program, but he has yet to receive clearance to face hitters, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.08/10
- 60-Day-ILSpencer Strider (SP) — Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said Monday that Strider (elbow) will begin a throwing progression this week, Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.08/10
- 60-Day-ILJoe Jimenez (RP) — Atlanta manager Walt Weiss revealed Wednesday that Jimenez underwent another surgery on his left knee 3-to-4 weeks ago, Grant McAuley of the Marietta Daily Journal reports.05/13
- 60-Day-ILJoey Wentz (RP) — Atlanta placed Wentz (knee) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08
Elder will get another look at this Mets lineup before the series is out, and Atlanta will want a cleaner version of him next time. For now, New York heads to the finale with the mound presence advantage and a lineup that's clearly seeing the ball well, injuries and all.