We are reaching the end of the regular season, and there’s no hotter race for a division title than the one between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves for the NL East crown. Which team will end up winning the division? We can’t wait to find out. In this piece, we have our MLB NL East pick between the Mets and Braves, with New York and Atlanta neck and neck.
With only a little bit of time left in the regular season, things really are down to the wire in this divisional race. Entering the last rally, the Mets are small favorites over the Braves to win the NL East. No one has forgotten about the unreal start New York had to 2022. Because of their brilliant start, the Mets had high MLB World Series betting odds, and people all over Queens were thrilled.
Things have slowed down a bit for the Mets, which has opened the door for the Braves to catch up a bit. Things were opposite for Atlanta, as they got off to a rough start. There was an apparent World Series hangover for the reigning champs, but they’ve been able to get themselves back on track, and they’re currently pushing for a division title. That’s great to see.
| NL East odds |  |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mets to win | -230 | -230 | -230 | -230 |
| Braves to win | +175 | +175 | +175 | +175 |
| Phillies to win | +55000 | +55000 | +55000 | +55000 |
For the Mets, the good news for them is that star pitcher Max Scherzer has been able to return from his injury. With the Mets at minimum locking in a Wild Card spot, Scherzer’s strong right arm will be essential for this team to make a splash once the postseason does arrive. He’s one of the best hurlers in the game, and he’s a nightmare for opposing hitters to face.
According to the best-rated sportsbooks, which includes the reliable Bovada review, the Mets hold -230 MLB betting odds to win the NL East. As for the Braves, They’re set at +175, but they’re only one game back of the Mets in the standings. Many people out there think that the Mets will be able to hold off Atlanta and win the division. We don’t think that will be the case.
Call it an upset or a surprise, but the Braves are our choice to win the NL East. They’re only one game back of the Mets for the division lead with enough games left for the tables to be turned. With that said, the Braves are rising at the right time, and the Mets’ struggles are something that you have to remember. NY’s play has dropped by a large amount.
That hasn’t been what we’ve seen out of the Braves, as they’re also getting healthy at the right time. Don’t forget that this team won the World Series last year. They still have most of the lineup and pitching staff back from 2021. Of course, the main difference here is that the Braves no longer have star first baseman, Freddie Freeman in town, which still feels weird.
They pulled off the move to bring in Matt Olson, though, with people still high on Atlanta. They will be ready to make a ton of noise in the playoffs. Last year, no one figured Atlanta would win the World Series. Many folks figured Houston would dominate when they matched up with the Houston Astros with the glory on the line. That wasn’t the case.
With Atlanta seemingly getting better with each game, it’s going to be hard for the Mets to fend them off. Because of this, we’re going with the Braves as our pick to win the NL East. It wouldn’t surprise New York wins, though, as they’ve got a loaded lineup and strong staff/bullpen. However, the momentum is no question on Atlanta’s side.
That said, there’s no doubt in our minds that both the Mets and Braves can go on deep playoff runs. As we’ve mentioned before, the two sides have strong hitters and pitchers. This will open the door for them to make a splash when things matter most. Remember too that no team is invincible in Major League Baseball – though sometimes it feels that way.
People might think that the Los Angeles Dodgers are a lock to win the World Series. Hey, that’s what a lot of people thought last year, but the Braves took them down in the NLCS. In the American League, people think the Astros will go on to play in the World Series, but don’t sleep on the Yankees, Guardians, Mariners, or Blue Jays in this case.
With Atlanta and New York, they have all the talent in the world and smart managers who know what it takes to achieve the World Series glory. This will only make Atlanta and New York even more dangerous next month in the playoffs.
