Offense or, rather, a lack of it, proved to be the downfall of the Mets in Atlanta.

After putting up eight runs in the series opener, the Mets managed just three runs the rest of the series. Consequently, they dropped the series after losing the final two games against the Braves.

It was inevitable that the Mets would come back to earth following the recent hot streak. The offense still features the same old flaws, while the bullpen was always going to regress.

Therefore, the Mets finished up the road trip 6-3. That’s impressive coming off the back of the Trade Deadline selloff, but the trip did end on a bit of a whimper.

On that note, let’s dive into the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Jun 28, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Kodai Senga (34) during the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

3 UP

SAVE CITY

Has Kodai Senga stumbled into a new role? The starter turned reliever got given the ball for the ninth inning of the series opener. In a high-leverage spot, he retired the Braves in order, including striking out big hitters Matt Olson and Michael Harris II. As a result, Senga earned his first career save. With five strikeouts and just two baserunners allowed over his last three outings, it is possible that Senga is more suited to a high-leverage role at this point. His stuff certainly plays better over just one inning. There is now an opportunity for Senga to further impress in a new role and perhaps cement his place in the bullpen for 2027.

POWER UP

Brett Baty played a major role in the Mets’ only win of this series. The infielder took full advantage of Braves’ starter Bryce Elder‘s struggles. Baty delivered what proved to be the hammer blow, launching a two-out grand slam in the first inning. It was Baty’s first career grand slam, and the blast changed the entire tenor of the game. It is important for Baty to finish this season strong to prove that he has a role to play, and this was a very good start.

EFFICIENT OUTING

Nolan McLean did exactly what he needed to on Tuesday. The righty allowed just one run over six stellar innings, carrying a no-hitter into the fifth. He only struck out three hitters – his second-lowest total this year – but he also needed just 85 pitches to get through his start. McLean mixed his pitches exceptionally well, helping to keep the Braves lineup off balance. It has been impressive to watch McLean adjust on the fly this year, and he showed again on Tuesday why he’s the future ace of this team.

Jun 24, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez (4) walks off the field after breaking his bat over his knee after striking out to end the eighth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

STRIKING OUT

The opener aside, the Mets struggled because of an inability to find the big hit in the key moment. The offense was shutout on Tuesday, striking out five times while going 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position, leaving five runners stranded on base. Then, in the series finale, the lineup struck out nine times while leaving five runners stranded. That included leaving runners on the corners in the ninth inning. The Mets had plenty of chances to do damage on Wednesday alone, but just couldn’t land the killer blow. As a result, they found themselves on the wrong end of a disappointing series loss.

MELTING DOWN

The bullpen wasn’t great in this series, highlighted by Dedniel Núñez‘s continued struggles. The veteran melted down during the series finale, allowing three earned runs on three hits. That implosion totally changed the tenor of the game in the Braves’ favor. Núñez has now given up seven runs – five earned – over his last three outings. Maybe these struggles can be attributed to Núñez building himself back up following injury. Regardless, unless he rights the ship soon, Núñez could find himself out of the bullpen.

STUCK IN A FUNK

Lost in the background of the offense’s recent outbursts has been the continued struggles of Francisco Alvarez. The catcher recorded only two hits in this series while striking out five times. He also wasn’t good when it came to situational hitting, leaving a pair of runners stranded in the ninth inning of Wednesday’s game. It continues a worrying trend for Alvarez, who is now hitting just .200/.364/.343/.707 with 15 strikeouts over his last 11 games. That isn’t good, and the lack of consistency remains a very real concern.