Braves vs. Mets: a Look Back at This NL East Rivalry

When Do The Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets Play Next?

Atlanta Braves tickets and New York Mets tickets can be found on their respective team pages, along with schedule information.

Are the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets Rivals?

Yes, the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets have a division rivalry dating back all the way to the 1960s. Both the Braves and the Mets compete in the National League East, with the winner of the division receiving a berth into the MLB playoffs.

Who are the Braves’ Biggest Rivals?

The Braves’ biggest rivals are the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies as members of the National League East division. The Braves have won 18 division titles since joining the NL East in 1994.

Who are the Mets’ Biggest Rivals?

The Mets’ biggest rivals are the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves in the NL East division. Additionally, the Mets have historical rivalries with former NL East members the St. Louis Cardinals and fellow New York-based team the New York Yankees in the American League.

Mets vs. Braves Series History

Tension between the Mets and Braves dates back to 1966 over the draft rights to pitching prospect and future hall-of-famer Tom Seaver. Seaver first signed a contract with the Braves, but it was rescinded after his eligibility for the draft was revoked because his college team’s season had already begun. Because Seaver was now ineligible for both the Draft and in the NCAA, he threatened to sue Major League Baseball.

Then-commissioner, William Eckert, declared Seaver eligible in the MLB, but rather than giving his draft rights to the Braves, other teams were allowed to match his contract and the Mets won his rights. The Mets swept the Braves in the 1969 NLCS en route to their first World Series title behind Seaver and Nolan Ryan.

Throughout the ’80s and into the ’90s, the fortunes of the Mets and Braves flipped, with the Braves becoming a dominant force in the National League and the Mets experiencing frequent losses. Controversy sparked ire between the two teams in 2000 when Braves’ closer John Rocker made offensive statements about New York City when asked if he would ever play for the Mets or Yankees. Rocker was suspended for MLB Spring Training and 14 regular season games. Later that year, the Mets beat the Braves near the end of the season to win the Wild Card playoff spot, winning the National League pennant, but losing to the Yankees in a Subway World Series.

Where Do the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets Play?

The Atlanta Braves play at Truist Park in the northwest corner of downtown Atlanta. The stadium opened in 2017 and was renamed in 2020 after its namesake sponsor SunTrust rebranded to Truist Financial. During the Braves’ successful 2021 World Series run, the team won two of three home games at Truist Park. In 2025, Truist Park hosted MLB All-Star Week, including the 95th MLB All-Star Game, as a first for the ballpark and third overall for the Braves.

The New York Mets play at Citi Field, located in Corona Park in the New York City borough of Queens. The stadium was opened in 2009 and replaced the previous park, Shea Stadium, which opened in 1964. The first game played in Citi Field was actually a collegiate contest between St. Johns and Georgetown, where the Hoyas won 6-4 in front of 22,397 fans. The Mets hosted the MLB All-Star Game at Citi Field in 2013, which marked the venue’s first time and the team’s second overall.

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