Let’s just say the New York Mets rose to the challenge this weekend.

Facing the best team in baseball, the Mets took two out of three from the first-place Braves. It was a weekend full of mostly positives. It was just a shame the homestand started so poorly, given what this team went on to accomplish against Atlanta.

However, we saw plenty of signs of hope over the weekend as we enter the summer. Now all the Mets need to do is put everything together consistently.

Before we get too ahead of ourselves, though, let’s recap the Braves series win in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

3 UP

BO KNOWS

Can this version of Bo Bichette help save the Mets? That will certainly be the hope. Bichette enjoyed a monster series against the Braves, which started with a statement game on Friday night. Bichette hit a pair of homers in the series opener, including a grand slam that broke the game open in the second inning. The infielder finished the game with six RBIs, showcasing what he’s really capable of. He would go on to record two-hit days on Saturday and Sunday, too. Maybe a fully-locked-in Bichette can help the Mets finally catch fire.

DYNAMIC UP TOP

Speaking of catching fire, we saw some really promising signs from the top of the lineup over the weekend. For instance, 1-5 in the order went a combined 10-for-22 with seven runs scored and five RBIs on Sunday alone. That included a big day at the plate from A.J. Ewing, who hit an RBI double and a home run, finishing 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Carson Benge also provided a spark on Sunday, while Juan Soto stayed hot, finishing the series with six hits and three RBIs. Once Francisco Lindor is back, then that top of the lineup has the potential to be both formidable and explosive.

TOP OF THE CLASS

The Mets boast an elite bullpen right now. That was evident throughout the series against the Braves. Devin Williams secured a four-out save on Friday. Cionel Pérez allowed just one run across two outings over the weekend. Daniel Duarte made two appearances and didn’t allow a run, as did Huascar Brazobán. All in all, the bullpen has been humming and has helped to keep this team afloat. Plus, the unit currently ranks fourth in all of baseball with a 3.30 relief ERA.

Jun 13, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets first baseman Mark Vientos (27) reacts after striking out against the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

HOT AND COLD

This isn’t directly related to what happened over the weekend, but rather what we’ve been seeing all season. The Mets dismantled a really good Braves team, especially on Sunday. Despite that, they are still under .500 because of inconsistent play. They started the homestand by losing a series to the Reds. As a result, they are constantly treading water due to an inability to put it all together. If they struggle in Cincinnati and then in Philly, then the series win over the Braves will ultimately mean nothing. If this team wants to get back in the playoff race, then it has to stop being so hot and cold.

ROUGH PATCH

Austin Warren hasn’t been good lately. Thankfully, that hasn’t impacted the bullpen’s overall performance. Still, the Mets will need Warren to work out of this funk, and quickly. He made one outing over the weekend, giving up what proved to be an insurance home run. As a result, he’s now allowed five runs and two homers over his last three appearances. That isn’t trending in the right direction.

FLAMING OUT

Both Mark Vientos and Brett Baty remain big question marks for the Mets. Sure, Vientos drove in the team’s only run on Saturday with a single. But he’s still hitting just .189/.204/.321 with 23 strikeouts and zero walks over his last 30 games. As for Baty, he went 2-for-2 with two walks and one RBI on Sunday, but that did come after a 0-for-4 night on Friday. The fact remains that both players are just too inconsistent and aren’t producing positive results nearly enough. That just can’t continue.