The Braves were off Thursday but they still lost a little ground in the NL East race.

The first-place Mets, who are 90-55, beat the Pirates 7-1 in New York and increased their lead over the second-place Braves to one game. The Braves (88-55) have one advantage however in that they have played two less games than their rivals.

The Braves went 4-4 on their West Coast road trip that ended Wednesday night, but have lost four of their last five games.

The Mets halted a five-game home losing streak and rebounded from a three-game sweep by the Chicago Cubs in New York.

The Braves begin a three-game home series against the Phillies (80-63) on Friday night. The Mets have three more games against the Pirates (55-89) this weekend.

New York is 6-7 in a 16-game stretch against Washington, Pittsburgh, Miami and Chicago — teams that are all more than 20 games under .500 this season.

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Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale fields a ground ball during the ninth inning of a MLB game Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at Truist Park. Sale was transferred to the 60-day injured list on Tuesday, July1, 2025. (Daniel Varnado/For the AJC)

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. (center) is flanked by GOP whip Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. (left) and Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, as Thune speak to reporters at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Earlier Tuesday, the Senate passed the budget reconciliation package of President Donald Trump's signature bill of big tax breaks and spending cuts. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

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