![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/USATSI_28846973_168402347_lowres.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWe finally saw some heart and pulse with this New York Mets team in Atlanta.<\/p>\n
After dropping the first two games of the series, the Mets rallied to win the final two to split the series with the Braves. Yes, it wasn\u2019t exactly pretty. And, yes, it could have easily been a series sweep.<\/p>\n
However, you have to celebrate the small victories too. In winning the final two games of the series, the Mets showed a lot of heart, a lot of grit, and a lot of character. You have to applaud that in the moment.<\/p>\n
On that note, let\u2019s recap everything from the Braves series in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down\u2026<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Brad Penner-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
3 UP
\nHEART & SOUL<\/p>\n
We touched on it above, but the Mets did show some fight in Atlanta. Whether it leads to anything, remains to be seen. But the final two games of the series deserve to be celebrated for now. Yes, the Mets hardly made it easy for themselves. And the bullpen did its utmost to give the final two games away. But the fact that the team was able to gut both games out and salvage the series says a lot. At least we know now that there is some fight in that clubhouse. Again, it will mean nothing if another losing streak follows. But, for now, we should be encouraged that this team simply didn\u2019t fold on the road against a very good team.<\/p>\n
CLUTCH HITTING<\/p>\n
Superstar players get that billing because of their ability to step up in the biggest moments. That was certainly the case for Juan Soto<\/a> on Monday night. In the series finale, trailing 3-2 in the ninth and with two outs, Soto showed why he is one of the best hitters on the planet. With ice in his veins, the outfielder crushed a dramatic three-run homer deep into the night to change the entire complexion of the game, and the series. Soto was red-hot throughout the entire series too, hitting two homers and finishing with three runs scored and seven RBIs.<\/p>\n In terms of clutch hitting, Soto wasn\u2019t the only one to come through. After the bullpen blew the lead in the bottom of the ninth, Luis Torrens<\/a> stepped up in the 10th and delivered a two-out, two-run double to give the Mets the lead for good. The catcher continues to show his value for this ballclub.<\/p>\n EXCELLENCE IN RELIEF<\/p>\n Luke Weaver<\/a> continues to set the gold standard for relief pitching for the Mets. In a series where the bullpen wilted badly, Weaver remained a paragon of excellence. Sure, he allowed the ghost runner to score in extra innings on Monday. However, he did battle back to get the final outs and secure the save. Plus, Weaver still hasn\u2019t allowed an earned run since April 30. That\u2019s 24 appearances and 26 consecutive innings without giving up a single earned run. During that time, he\u2019s struck out 34 while allowing just 11 hits and seven walks. That is pure dominance right there. And, if this run continues, Weaver could emerge as the team\u2019s biggest trade chip.<\/p>\n Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images<\/p>\n 3 DOWN In many ways, the Mets were lucky to escape Atlanta without getting swept. They were outplayed in most areas for the majority of the series. Defensive issues were again front and center. The offense was ineffective for the first two games of the series. The pitching was hit-and-miss and required herculean efforts on the mounds. And the bullpen showed the first real signs of buckling under a heavy workload. It wasn\u2019t pretty, and the Mets\u2019 slew of faults were on full display. Granted, they did rebound to split the series. Still, the overall play of this team remains incredibly sloppy. So much so, it is hard to envision the fightback in Atlanta meaning all that much in the grand scheme of things.<\/p>\n MELTING DOWN<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t an easy series for the bullpen. Although that would be putting it lightly. There were a couple of homers given up by that unit on Friday, and again on Saturday. However, the headlines belong to the final two games of the series. A rusty Huascar Brazob\u00e1n<\/a> entered Sunday\u2019s game in the ninth armed with a 10-3 lead. Easy work, right? Nope. Brazob\u00e1n imploded, allowing five earned runs and even committing an error. Devin Williams<\/a> came in and, while he did eventually stop the meltdown, he also gave up a run. Then, on Monday night, it was Williams\u2019 turn to really struggle. Trusted to protect a 3-2 lead, Williams instead gave up a double and then a two-run homer to Matt Olson<\/a> to make it a tied game. Thankfully, the offense bailed him out in extra innings.<\/p>\n ANOTHER COMICAL BLUNDER<\/p>\n Not only do the Mets make defensive mistakes, but they also have an ability to comically screw up even the most routine of plays. Take Saturday\u2019s lopsided loss, for example. In the bottom of the third with Atlanta already leading and the bases loaded, the Mets just needed one more out to escape the jam unscathed. Instead, a routine pop-up caused chaos between Francisco Lindor<\/a> and Tyrone Taylor<\/a>. Lindor just dropped to the ground, missing the ball completely, while Taylor, who carried on charging in despite Lindor\u2019s calls, also missed the ball. As a result, three more runs scored and the game was all but over early. Furthermore, Lindor and Taylor were lucky they didn\u2019t collide and get seriously hurt. If one play could sum up the Mets\u2019 season, it would be that one.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/USATSI_28781217_168402347_lowres.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\nLOTS OF UGLY<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/gIzIDu3L-e1686140004997.jpg\")
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