While nothing has been more gratifying for Atlanta Braves fans than the team's hot start to the 2026 season, there has been a close second. It isn't a secret that there is no love lost with the New York Mets, who have a payroll of $318 million that is second only behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, it seems that you cannot buy relevance as the Mets have continued to find themselves free-falling in the National League standings.
New York is 15-25 and on pace to lose 100 games, pointing to what a complete and utter collapse it has been. The Braves cannot help but enjoy this, not only because of the misery of the fanbase they have little love for, but also the incredible division lead it has created. New York is currently 12.5 games behind Atlanta, with the closest threat being the Philadelphia Phillies, who trail by 9.0 games.
This is truly the only thing that could make Atlanta's hot start to the season sweeter. The Phillies and Mets have been Atlanta's primary division rivals over the past decade, and neither is anywhere close to capable. Watching two highly paid rosters struggle so mightily has given the Braves a division lead it is hard to imagine they will relinquish.
Braves Cannot Help but Continue to Enjoy New York Mets Early Demise
Atlanta is only getting healthier, and this makes it impossible to believe they are going to give up a healthy lead. Starters Hurston Waldrep and Spencer Schwellenbach are yet to return, and already the Braves clearly are the most complete team in the National League East.
A big piece of this is due to New York's attempting to replicate last season's miserable Braves start, but doing so with a far higher payroll. It has been the cherry on top of what has been a perfect start to Atlanta's season. Even if the Mets were to get hot in the coming weeks, it is hard to see them climbing out of such a major hole.
For the Braves, they simply need to keep playing their brand of baseball and not losing focus due to a lack of pressure. Atlanta does have the benefit of being at the top of the National League and having a tightly contested race with the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Homefield advantage in the postseason leaves every reason to remain focused while enjoying the demise of their rivals. No question, the Mets' season is over only weeks into the 2026 season, and it couldn't have happened to a more deserving team. One that appears to have a lot of decisions to make before the upcoming trade deadline that will give them a chance to shed part of a bloated payroll.
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