Forget about the National League East. Well, don’t completely forget about it, as the Braves are about to enter a nine-game road trip against the two teams ahead of them in the division race, but let’s approach it with clear eyes.
The inability of the Mets to pull away in the division — thanks to a rash of injuries that has now included Jacob deGrom landing on the injured list — has created the perception that the East is there for the taking. The reality is that while the Braves are 4 1/2 back after Wednesday’s nearly-completed double header against the Padres, sans Ronald Acuña Jr.