While the Braves are enjoying resounding success to begin the 2026 campaign, the same cannot be said about the rest of the division.

2026 NL East Standings

1. Atlanta Braves (20-9)
2. Miami Marlins (13-16, 6.5 GB)
3. Washington Nationals (13-16, 6.5 GB)
4. New York Mets (9-19, 10.5 GB)
5. Philadelphia Phillies (9-19, 10.5 GB)

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There were certainly still some believers that the Braves could bounce back from a forgetful 2025 season and reclaim their standing at the top of the division, but most thought it was a toss-up between the Braves, Mets, and Phillies that could go either way.

It’s still April, but 10.5 games is a ridiculous mountain to climb, even with five months of baseball left to play. To shine an even further light on just how disappointing this start has been for the Braves’ rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies announced they have fired manager Rob Thomson.

The Phillies have relieved Rob Thomson of his duties as manager. pic.twitter.com/Jp523BrbV5

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 28, 2026

Back-to-back division titles, and fired just 28 games into the season — that’s the level of panic unfolding in the NL East right now.

It’s honestly a bit embarrassing, and one of those moments where Braves fans should take a step back and appreciate how stable their own organization is. Thomson had plenty of success managing Philadelphia. Firing him doesn’t change the bigger issue — the Phillies are an expensive, aging roster that looks like it’s trending in the wrong direction, with a farm system that isn’t exactly built to carry them into the next era.

The job is far from finished, but both the Mets and Phillies have very real problems — and not the kind that are easily fixed in the middle of a season. Meanwhile, the Braves are operating in cruise control, with multiple key reinforcements on the way back from injury.

Both Spencer Strider and Sean Murphy could return this week, and Ha-Seong Kim’s rehab assignment is underway in Columbus. 

Everything is lining up for this to be a really fun year in Atlanta — one where they can push for a top seed in the National League while the rest of the division implodes from within.

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Photo: (Photo by Terence Lewis/Icon Sportswire)