Mets crushed 14-3 by Braves as season struggles continue

The New York Mets were routed by the Atlanta Braves, 14-3, at Truist Park on July 4, 2026, dropping their record to 36‑53 while the Braves improved to 52‑35. The loss extended the Mets' slump to 12 of their last 14 games and their second defeat in the series.

Ahead of the series, the Mets announced that catcher Francisco Alvarez would not serve as the designated hitter, returning to a DH role for the 12th time this season. Alvarez is batting .302 as a DH but only .221 when playing catcher.

Pitching matchups were also highlighted: Sean Manaea (1‑3, 4.71 ERA) started the game for New York, while veteran Chris Sale (8‑6, 2.10 ERA) opened for Atlanta. Subsequent starters listed include Christian Scott for the Mets and Grant Holmes for the Braves on July 3, and Nolan McLean versus Martín Pérez on July 5.