The Atlanta Braves come into their June 26 matchup against the New York Mets seeking to stabilize what has been an up-and-down 2025 season defined by inconsistency and offensive stagnation. Entering the game with a sub-.500 record and sitting in the lower half of the NL East standings, the Braves have struggled to establish any real momentum despite flashes of potential from both young talent and seasoned veterans. Grant Holmes gets the ball for Atlanta, posting a 4–6 record with a 3.71 ERA across 13 starts, and while his command and strikeout rate have shown growth, the team’s lack of run support has made wins hard to come by. Atlanta’s offense has not delivered consistently this season, ranking in the bottom third of the league in runs per game and leaning heavily on a few key bats such as Matt Olson and Ozzie Albies to spark production. Unfortunately, the Braves’ batting average with runners in scoring position has been among the lowest in the National League, and they’ve recorded just two wins in their last nine one-run games, a stat that highlights their inability to deliver in high-leverage situations.

Their bullpen, though talented, has faltered late in games, often allowing leads to slip away or failing to hold ties, contributing to a frustrating number of close losses. Defensively, Atlanta has been relatively steady, but without consistent offense to back it up, their margin for error is razor-thin. Their road performance hasn’t offered much relief either, with the Braves hovering around a .400 winning percentage away from home, and despite solid pitching performances, the bats have simply not followed. Ronald Acuña Jr.’s extended absence due to injury has also left a noticeable void in the lineup and outfield, forcing others to overperform to compensate. If the Braves hope to turn things around against the Mets, they’ll need Holmes to deliver a quality start while finding a way to manufacture runs against Griffin Canning, who has been effective in suppressing extra-base hits and limiting walks. Any chance of victory may rest on Atlanta’s ability to capitalize on New York’s occasional middle-inning pitching lapses and avoid stranding runners, which has been their Achilles’ heel all season. With the NL East still within reach mathematically but slipping from view, every divisional matchup becomes a must-win, and the Braves need to start stringing together clean, focused games if they want to claw back into contention. Their performance in this series finale will say a lot about their resilience and postseason aspirations as the midseason mark approaches.