Honestly, if you grew up a baseball fan in the 90s, the Braves and Mets game schedule wasn't just a list of dates. It was a war map. You had Chipper Jones naming his child Shea after the stadium he basically owned. You had John Rocker saying things that probably shouldn't be repeated in polite company. It was loud, it was mean, and it was beautiful.
Fast forward to 2026. Things have changed, but the bitterness? That’s still fresh.
Last season, back in August 2025, we saw Pete Alonso basically rewrite the history books at Citi Field. He didn't just hit a home run; he shattered Darryl Strawberry's franchise record by launching his 253rd career bomb against Atlanta. The Mets ended up winning that one 13-5, a game where they hit six homers—all with two outs. Think about that for a second. Two outs. It’s the kind of statistical anomaly that makes Braves fans want to throw their remote at the TV.
What’s On the Calendar for 2026?
If you're looking to catch the next chapter of this chaos, grab your calendar. The 2026 MLB schedule is already out, and the first major clash is set for June 12–14 at Citi Field.
It’s a classic summer weekend series. New York in June is humid, the fans are rowdy, and the Braves usually come into town looking to ruin someone's day. If you miss that one, the rivalry moves south to Truist Park for a Fourth of July weekend showdown starting July 3, 2026.
Imagine that. Hot dogs, fireworks, and probably a benches-clearing incident because someone flipped a bat too high. It’s peak America.
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The teams meet again in Atlanta from August 10–12. Historically, these August games are where the division starts to tighten up. One team is usually desperately chasing a Wild Card spot while the other is trying to keep their lead in the NL East. In 2025, the Braves actually took the final meeting on August 24 with a tight 4-3 win, proving that even when the Mets are hitting historical milestones, Atlanta finds a way to grind out a victory.
The Polar Bear vs. the Atlanta Machine
When we talk about the Braves and Mets game today, it’s really a story of two different philosophies.
The Braves are a machine. They develop talent, they lock them into long-term deals, and they just keep winning 90+ games like it's a chore they have to finish before dinner. Ronald Acuña Jr. remains the engine. Even in those late 2025 games, he was still a menace, swiping bases and making highlight-reel catches that feel routine at this point.
Then you have the Mets.
The Mets are emotional. They’re high-stakes. They brought in Juan Soto to pair with Pete Alonso, creating a middle-of-the-order that is, frankly, terrifying for any pitcher. In that August 2025 blowout, Soto was a huge part of the 16-hit barrage that dismantled the Braves' pitching staff.
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But here is the thing people get wrong: they think the Mets can't pitch. David Peterson has actually turned into a bit of a Braves-killer lately. He went 5.2 innings with 8 strikeouts in that final August meeting. He didn't get the win, but he kept the Mets in a game that they eventually lost by a single run.
Recent Head-to-Head Stats (2025 Season)
| Date | Winner | Score | Key Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 12, 2025 | Mets | 13-5 | Alonso breaks franchise HR record |
| Aug 13, 2025 | Braves | 11-6 | Matt Olson goes deep twice |
| Aug 14, 2025 | Braves | 4-3 | Raisel Iglesias slams the door in the 9th |
| Aug 22, 2025 | Mets | 12-7 | Francisco Alvarez 2-HR game |
| Aug 23, 2025 | Mets | 9-2 | Sean Manaea dominates over 7 innings |
| Aug 24, 2025 | Braves | 4-3 | Jurickson Profar's 8th-inning go-ahead single |
The "Franchise Friday" Phenomenon
There is this weird thing happening lately called "Franchise Friday" that’s been popping up in the news. It’s basically a simulated or "All-Time" league where legends face off. Just this week, on January 16, 2026, a simulated game between the All-Time Mets and All-Time Braves went viral.
Francisco Lindor—the 2026 version—hit a walk-off two-run homer against a simulated John Smoltz. It sounds silly, right? But it just goes to show how much this specific matchup occupies the brain space of baseball fans even in the dead of winter. We are so obsessed with the Braves and Mets that we’re watching digital versions of them play while we wait for Spring Training to start in Florida.
Why the Braves Usually Have the Edge
If you look at the all-time record, the Braves lead the series 524–430. That’s a significant gap.
Atlanta has this annoying habit (annoying if you're a Mets fan) of being deep. If Matt Olson isn't hitting, Austin Riley is. If Riley is in a slump, Ozzie Albies finds a gap. In the 2025 series, Sean Murphy and Jurickson Profar—players you might not consider the "superstars" of that lineup—were the ones who drove in the winning runs in the final game of the year.
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The Mets, meanwhile, tend to rely on the "big swing." When it works, they put up 13 runs. When it doesn't, they leave 10 runners on base, which is exactly what happened in their 4-3 loss last August. They went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. You can't do that against Atlanta and expect to walk away with a "W."
Real Expert Insights for Your Next Bet or Draft
If you’re tracking these teams for fantasy baseball or just want to sound smart at the sports bar, keep an eye on the pitching matchups for that June 12 series.
- The Spencer Strider Factor: Strider struggled a bit against the Mets in 2025, taking a loss in that record-breaking Alonso game. Watch to see if he changes his sequence. He was leaning too heavily on the high fastball, and the Mets' hitters, specifically Francisco Alvarez, were sitting on it.
- The "Contract Year" Energy: Pete Alonso is always playing like his hair is on fire, but in 2026, the pressure is on the Mets' front office to prove they can actually dethrone the Braves.
- The Bullpen Volatility: Both teams had moments where their middle relief looked shaky in late 2025. In a Braves and Mets game, the game isn't won in the first five innings; it’s won in the 7th and 8th when the managers start playing chess with the lefty-righty matchups.
Survival Guide for Fans
Going to the game? If you’re at Citi Field, get the pastrami sandwich. It’s non-negotiable. If you’re at Truist Park, the Battery is basically a playground for adults, but getting a ride-share out of there after a Mets game is a nightmare. Plan to stay for a drink after the final out just to let the traffic die down.
The rivalry isn't just about the score. It’s about the fact that these two fan bases genuinely don’t like each other. There’s no "mutual respect" here. There’s just a desire to see the other team’s season end in heartbreak.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check your ticket apps now for the June 12 series at Citi Field. Prices for Braves-Mets games tend to spike about three weeks before first pitch, especially for weekend afternoon games. If you're a betting person, look at the "Over" when these two play in New York; the ball has been flying out of that park lately whenever the Atlanta bats come to town.