Split the Difference

Morning Dose: Thursday, July 30

Jul 30, 2026

∙ Paid

☀️ Good Morning:

Around the fifth inning of yesterday’s nightcap, I started thinking that maybe it’s a good thing the Mets are so far out of the race.

I didn’t have to worry about the offense wasting 11 runs on a sacrificial call-up on Monday, only to miss an opportunity to sweep the hated Braves by scoring three runs over the next two games.

I didn’t have to sweat out Devin Williams holding a one-run lead with the same trepidation and urgency.

I didn’t have to feel as frustrated about the offense looking helpless against Chris Sale and the Atlanta bullpen.

When you’re 17 games below .500 and even more than that out of first place, you can just let a doubleheader wash over you as background noise to a day of unpacking.

The Mets earned the most boring doubleheader outcome, a split. They took two of three from the first-place Braves. I suppose we should be happy.

We are four days away from the trade deadline.

It’s all a dress rehearsal until then anyway.

Check out MetsFix.com

🗓️ UP NEXT: The Marlins, who are coming off a sweep of the Phillies after dropping 12 in a row and spoiling what was becoming a promising season. The Fish were 52–42 after winning six in a row in early July. They are now contemplating whether they are trade-deadline buyers or sellers. The Mets have four games to tip the scale in either direction.