In the midst of a wet and windy nor’easter, the New York Mets concluded the 2026 season with a 6-4 loss against the Washington Nationals. Although the Mets had some positive moments, their pitching ultimately let them down, and the offense struggled to keep pace.

This defeat marks the end of the season, with the Mets finishing in last place for the first time since 2003. The Mets concluded the season with a 74-88 record, their lowest number of wins since 2018, finishing 14 games below .500.

After a delayed start, Sean Manaea took the mound for the Mets but did not perform well, giving up five runs on seven hits over six innings. The Mets initially provided Manaea with a 4-1 lead by the third inning, but he quickly squandered it. He was hit hard by Andres Chaparro, who belted two home runs, along with key hits from Nasim Nunez and Jacob Young. Austin Warren fared slightly better in his inning of relief, conceding just one run on two hits. Cionel Perez then pitched a scoreless frame, striking out two batters.

Carson Benge continued to make a strong case for the National League Rookie of the Year award, driving in the first run of the game and finishing with three hits on the day. This achievement marked his 45th multi-hit game of the season, including 14 games with three hits. Ronny Mauricio, despite striking out with two runners on in the top of the eighth, also hit a two-run home run to center field, marking his third consecutive at-bat with a home run.

Francisco Lindor broke out of his slump by hitting his 300th career home run, solidifying his status as one of the best shortstops in baseball and the best in Mets history at that position. He hit this milestone home run off DJ Herz from the right side of the plate in the top of the second inning. Despite an injury-plagued season that didn’t go as planned, Lindor’s achievement of 300 career homers and over 20 home runs this year sets a strong standard for the 2027 season.

Lindor is the only shortstop in MLB history to hit over 300 home runs and steal more than 200 bases, and he is only the second switch-hitter, after Carlos Beltran, to reach this milestone in their careers.

As the season comes to a close, it did not go as the Mets had hoped. Injuries and poor performances derailed what could have been a remarkable season. However, amid the challenges, there were several positive developments. The emergence of players like Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing, Nolan McLean, and Zac Thornton as reliable rotation pieces, along with Bo Bichette finding his stride and the Mets identifying their leader in manager Andy Green, provide reasons for optimism heading into the next seasons, whether in 2027 or 2028.

But for now, the book has closed on 2026. Guess we’ll have to wait until next year.

Player of the Game: Carson Benge

Nabbing three hits on the afternoon, Carson Benge made his final claim for the NL Rookie Of The Year award, driving in a run and nabbing his 14th three-hit game of the season. Benge has been a revelation and a welcome addition for the Mets, cementing himself as part of the future of this franchise.

On Deck

The Mets will return home to Citi Field for breakup day, after which the players will part ways. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns will hold his end-of-season press conference on Monday at 2:00 pm ET. The next Mets game is scheduled for March 19, 2027, when they will kick off their spring season at Clover Park against the Miami Marlins.