Mets Defeat Braves 8-4, Claim Wild Card Spot

The New York Mets defeated the Atlanta Braves 8-4, claiming the top NL wild card berth with a dominant seven-run third inning highlighted by J.D. Martinez's grand slam. The Mets also saw strong performances from Mark Vientos and Francisco Alvarez, who both homered during the inning against Braves starter Charlie Morton. Despite the victory, the Mets lost Kodai Senga to a left calf strain in his season debut after he pitched 5 1/3 innings, striking out nine and allowing two hits, including a two-run homer to Adam Duvall. The win marked the Mets' fifth straight and improved their record to 55-48, while the Braves suffered their sixth consecutive loss, falling to 54-48. The Mets have gained significantly in the standings since June 2, improving their performance to 31-12 in that span. Meanwhile, Braves outfielder Michael Harris II is optimistic about returning soon from a hamstring injury.