Braves Face Playoff Pressure After Mets Series Split

The Atlanta Braves recently split a four-game series with the New York Mets at Citi Field, winning the first two games but losing the last two, which left them 10 games behind the Mets in the NL East and struggling to make significant playoff progress. Their bullpen, particularly relievers like Raisel Iglesias who has underperformed, has been a weak point this season, though Pierce Johnson has been a bright spot despite limited usage, possibly due to strategic rest to preserve his effectiveness later in the season. Despite speculation from MLB pundits that the Braves might sell players at the trade deadline, GM Alex Anthopoulos firmly stated the team is not selling and remains committed to contending, even with Chris Sale's injury. Critics who placed the Braves in the "trending to the sell side" category were challenged by fans and analysts who pointed to the team's recent strong performances, including a winning streak against the Mets that has improved their postseason chances. The Braves continue to have key players like Ronald Acuña and Matt Olson contributing, though the team still faces challenges such as inconsistent pitching and being below .500 overall. Fan support remains essential as the Braves push to stay competitive and make a playoff run despite the tough first half of the season.