Mets Beat Braves 7-5 but Trail in NL East After Stearns Praises Atlanta
New York Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns called the Atlanta Braves the best team in baseball during a series at Citi Field. The Braves lead the NL East while the Mets sit in last place.
ForbesNew York Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns praised the Atlanta Braves during the teams' series at Citi Field the week of June 14, 2026. Stearns said the Braves had played exceptional baseball on all sides of the ball and deserved their position atop the division.
“You can make an argument they're the best team in baseball right now, or have played the best in baseball right now. They deserve a lot of credit for that. ” The Braves entered the season facing expectations that the Mets would challenge them after New York added several star players.
Instead, Atlanta took first place in the National League East. The Mets occupy last place in the division as of June 14, 2026. On Saturday, the Mets defeated the Braves 7-5 at Citi Field. Bo Bichette hit a grand slam in the victory.
The win did not change the Mets' position in the standings. Stearns spoke to reporters at Citi Field in Flushing, Queens, on March 25, 2026, before the regular season began. His comments during the June series reflected the gap that has opened between the two clubs.
