Flushing, N.Y.: New York Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns speaks to the media during the team's pre-opening day workout at Citi Field in Flushing, Queens, March 25, 2026. (Photo by Thomas A. Ferrara/Newsday RM via Getty Images)
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The Atlanta Braves entered the season expecting to face a significant challenge from their division rivals, particularly after the New York Mets revamped their own roster with several star additions.
But instead the Braves have established themselves as the team to beat in the National League East, taking the top spot from a rival that many expected to serve as the frontrunner. And that surprise breakout drew frank praise from a key Mets executive whose own team has struggled to find the same level of consistency.
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Speaking about the division race during the teams series this week, New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns offered a glowing assessment of the rival club that has become one of the National League’s toughest opponents.
During a recent media session, Stearns acknowledged just how impressive Atlanta's run has been to start a season that his team might have hoped to dominate.
“They’ve played exceptional on all sides of the ball,” Stearns said, per SNY, when asked about what his team has failed to do to make good on preseason expectations in the division. “You can make an argument they're the best team in baseball right now, or have played the best in baseball right now. They deserve a lot of credit for that. And we have not, we've played inconsistent… They deserve to be where they are."
Rather than downplaying the competition or acknowledging the surprising flip following preseason expectations, Stearns openly acknowledged that the rival's success has been earned.
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“...the Mets, despite their share of flaws, won a 7-5 game over the Braves at Citi Field behind a Bo Bichette grand slam and another heavy bullpen effort,” Anthony DiComo noted for MLB.com. “The win may not have done much to change the NL East or Wild Card races, or even to lift the Mets from last place in the division. But it was enough to prove — for one night, at least — that they can compete with the teams they’ll need to beat to grind their way back into postseason contention.”
While that victory offered a brief bright spot for New York, Stearns' remarks underscored the broader reality of the season. The organization he runs is still searching for consistency, while the Braves, a breakout club he couldn’t help but praise, continues to stack wins and earn respect throughout the sport.
For Braves fans, hearing a division rival publicly describe another contender as potentially "the best team in baseball right now" served as a reminder of how dramatically the National League landscape has shifted during the 2026 season.
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