ATLANTA – Entering this weekend’s series against the Braves at Truist Park, the Mets had lost 12 of their past 16 games and were in danger of falling out of the final National League Wild Card spot as the Reds took advantage of New York’s recent struggles.
The Mets also came into the series with a 3-7 record against the Braves in 2025, and they were 0-3 in Atlanta in the regular-season campaign.
The Mets might have dropped Sunday’s series finale 4-3 as Atlanta scored four late runs. But New York won the first two games of the set to win its first series at Truist Park since April 2024.
In those first two games, New York’s offense erupted, and Mark Vientos played a crucial role in the Mets’ production at the plate.
In the series, Vientos went 5-for-13 with one double, three homers and five RBIs. Vientos hit his three home runs in consecutive at-bats Saturday and Sunday.
After Vientos went 3-for-5 on Saturday, with two home runs in his final two at-bats of the 9-2 victory, he provided most of New York’s offense on Sunday as his two-run homer in the second inning gave the Mets a 2-0 lead.
Vientos has hit safely in 24 of his past 29 games, tallying 32 hits in that span with eight doubles, one triple, six home runs and 22 RBIs. In his 61 games before that hot streak, Vientos recorded 45 hits with eight doubles, one triple, six home runs and 21 RBIs.
“I think I’m more focused on what pitch I want to hit and [its] location,” Vientos said. “I’m more convicted [in] my approach. [Earlier in the season] I think I was trying to cover too many pitches. I was trying to be someone I wasn’t. That would get me out of my strike zone. I’m just convicted on what I want. …
“I’m looking for a fastball when I’m up there and just reacting to everything else. I feel like that helps me stay on time on the fastball.”
On Sunday, Vientos extended his hitting streak to seven games, and he has five home runs, nine RBIs and seven extra-base hits in that span. It's his second extended hitting streak of the season, after an 11-game streak from July 19 to Aug. 3.
“Offensively he’s a big part of our team, and he’s locked in right now,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “He’s swinging the bat well [against] lefties [and] righties. [He’s] driving the ball. He’s an important bat in the middle of our lineup.”
Vientos was the only Mets hitter to get to Braves starting pitcher Bryce Elder, whose lone blemish was Vientos’ homer over six innings.
“I thought he was commanding pretty [well],” Vientos said. “I thought he wasn’t missing too many pitches in the zone, especially for me. The three at-bats I had against him, the only one [I hit] was that slider [for a home run].”
Winning the first two games of the series in Atlanta could loom large down the stretch as the Mets head home to face the NL East-leading Phillies for a three-game set beginning Monday. New York leads the Reds by 1 1/2 games for the final Wild Card spot after Cincinnati beat the Diamondbacks, 6-1.
“These are big games,” Vientos said. “I feel like every game is important, but against [the Phillies], obviously we’re one and two [in the division] right now. I think we treat them like every other game. We want to win, and we’ll get focused for [Monday].”
The Mets do not have another off-day until Sept. 4 as they are in the middle of a stretch of 16 games in 16 days.