The MLB season is still in its infancy—so fresh, it might actually believe a 7-foot-tall rabbit snuck in on Easter morning just to drop off candy nestled in plastic grass. It’s far too early to make bold declarations, but the New York Mets have already shown flashes that suggest an NL East crown could be within reach.
Of course, claiming the division won’t be easy, especially with the reigning NL East champs, the Philadelphia Phillies, keeping pace. Still, there are encouraging signs. And much like that mythical bunny bearing Cadbury Eggs, the Mets might just hop their way to a division title if a few key factors fall into place.
1) The pitching looks legitimate and they’re doing it without one of their best starters
How real is this Mets pitching staff? Shutting down the St. Louis Cardinals the way they have through the first three games at home certainly adds some credibility. Yes, their early-season schedule has been soft—soft enough to land a role in a ’90s laundry detergent commercial—but facing a team like the Cardinals was a genuine test. And so far, they’ve aced it.
With a sparkling 2.27 ERA through their first 21 games, the Mets have been elite at keeping runs off the board. Add in their strong strikeout numbers, and this staff isn’t just riding a hot streak—they’ve shown the kind of talent and depth that could make their early success sustainable.
What’s most remarkable is that the Mets have managed all this success without Sean Manaea throwing a single pitch. He’s the highest-paid arm on the roster and was expected to be their Opening Day starter. Yet, his absence hasn’t slowed them down one bit—if anything, it’s highlighted the strength and depth of the rest of the pitching staff.
Sure, some regression is inevitable. Kodai Senga will have his stumbles. Tylor Megill is bound to hit rough patches. Ryne Stanek, the last man standing with a spotless ERA, will eventually surrender a run—just as Reed Garrett did with that lone ghost runner.
But this staff wasn’t built on hype or star power—it was assembled with a purpose. And so far, it’s doing exactly what it was designed to do. Quietly, effectively, and without the spotlight, they’re proving they can hang with anyone.
2) There is a lot of room for improvement on offense and even so they’re scoring runs
Not many hitters on this Mets roster have escaped criticism at some point. Pete Alonso has been scorching hot from day one, and Luis Torrens, despite cooling off recently, made fans forget about the absence of Francisco Alvarez for a bit. Outside of those two, it’s been tough sledding. Even Francisco Lindor had everyone groaning with a familiar “here we go again” moment early on.
This offense might never rank among the league’s elite, but it’s also unlikely they’ll continue to be this tentative and ineffective with runners in scoring position. Some players are bound to turn it around. Juan Soto (yes, we’re still waiting for the real version to show up) is at the top of that list. Mark Vientos, after years of hype, finally looks like he’s starting to produce like we expected.
That said, the issues won’t completely vanish. Second base is still a mystery, and center field was a concern even before Jose Siri went down. The DH duo of Starling Marte and Jesse Winker? Yeah, time to wake up.
Despite the inconsistencies, the Mets are still manufacturing runs—even in games where they strand a small army on the bases. The pitching staff has done a lot of heavy lifting to keep them competitive.
Sure, there are too many regulars hitting below the Mendoza Line right now, but we’ve seen this before. Slumps happen, especially in April. Veterans like Brandon Nimmo will climb their way back. It might not get perfect, but it’ll get better—and for now, that’s enough.
3) The Braves have a lot of catching up to do
For the Mets to claim the NL East title, it likely means the Atlanta Braves are having an off year—maybe not a total collapse, but something like last season where they end up settling for a Wild Card spot. But let’s not write them off just yet. The Braves didn’t build a subpar roster that’s destined to miss the playoffs. Early struggles, including key player absences and a tough start with a West Coast road trip against the Padres and Dodgers, have certainly contributed to their rough start.
However, early struggles can sometimes put a team in too deep a hole to climb out of. Right now, only the Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies have fewer wins than the Braves. This is a team getting minimal production from their outfielders, while Sean Murphy and Matt Olson have both had slow starts. On top of that, their pitching staff, which was a strength last season, has taken a step back this year.
A strong 2025 season for the Mets couldn’t have come at a better time with the Braves struggling as they have. This isn’t a case of one standout part of the roster carrying the team—right now, they’re below average in almost every category.
That said, we know better than to count out a team like the Braves. They have a knack for wriggling their way back into contention, often making a late push to the top of the division when least expected.
