3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Avoid Sweep Against Cincinnati

The misery keeps on coming for the New York Mets.

In a less-than-ideal start to the homestand, the Mets dropped two out of three to the Reds at Citi Field. They did win the series finale to snap a five-game losing streak, but that’s hardly cause to celebrate.

We’re currently witnessing a team that can’t get out of its own way. Even at full health, it is hard to have any faith in the Mets being able to salvage anything from the 2026 season.

On that note, let’s recap everything from the Cincinnati series in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

3 UP

ON A TEAR

Thank the Lord for Juan Soto. The superstar hitter is quite literally carrying the entire team on his back right now. He hit two homers in the series, with his solo shot on Wednesday his eighth home run over his last 12 games. Over that span, Soto is slashing .386/.471/.932/.1.402 with 13 RBIs and 13 runs scored. If it weren’t for Soto, the offense really would be lifeless.

COMING UP CLUTCH

The Mets should be thanking Carson Benge for not getting swept. The rookie, who shaved off his mustache to try to break a 1-for-20 slump, was the hero in the series finale. Benge came up with two clutch hits, both with two outs, to drive in a pair of runners. Both hits gave the Mets a two-run cushion at key points in the game, and both proved to be crucial.

REINFORCEMENTS

Help could be on the way. Francisco Lindor was seen fielding groundballs at Citi Field on Wednesday. Furthermore, Jorge Polanco began a rehab assignment with Double-A Binghamton, going 1-for-2 with a single and a run scored. Francisco Alvarez has also resumed baseball activities. When those three will be back remains to be seen. And whether they can help to turn things around is also not a guarantee. But, regardless, the Mets are going to need as much help as they can get.

3 DOWN

ONE STEP FORWARD, FOUR STEPS BACKWARDS

The 2026 Mets are immensely frustrating. They showed signs of life by winning six out of seven, only to immediately fall apart once again. That included losing five straight before Wednesday’s win. This team just can’t get out of its own way, and it is hard to watch. It is also getting harder to care about wins, knowing what is likely to follow. It looks set to be a long, frustrating summer.

GROWING CONCERN

When things are bad, they tend to be really bad. Just look at the pitching. Nolan McLean entered this season with big expectations. He certainly met them early on but has struggled since. He gave up seven earned runs over just 3 1/3 innings on Monday, meaning he has now allowed a whopping 13 earned runs in nine innings across his last two starts. With everything else going on, the Mets certainly don’t need McLean to fall off a cliff. Furthermore, David Peterson continues to be an all-time enigma. He allowed six runs on 11 hits on Tuesday, adding even more uncertainty to the current starting rotation puzzle.

ALL-TIME FUTILITY 

Mets broadcaster Ron Darling caused a stir this week after ripping the Mets on air during Tuesday’s loss to the Reds. It was the rare instance of a hometown broadcaster going after his own team. As shocking as it was, Darling was right in what he said. The Mets are inept. And we are seeing the same kind of mental errors nearly every single game. David Peterson not backing up home plate on Tuesday is hardly a new thing. This team has been committing those kinds of humiliating brain farts all year long. If the players are making the same mistakes over and over and aren’t adjusting, then the blame for that does fall on the coaches, too. But Darling was absolutely right. The Mets are dealing in ineptitude almost every single night, and it has to stop.