It will also go down as one of the most embarrassing collapses in franchise history, too. Forget 2007—the Mets didn’t have a great team chasing them down this time around. They just flat-out blew it.

Consider this: New York owned the best record in all of baseball on the morning of June 13. The team nosedived and went 38-55 the rest of the way to miss the playoffs. They led the NL East by 5 1/2 games as late as June 12, and led the division in August, too. And yet, the Mets will now be getting ready for the beach instead of the playoffs.

Furthermore, needing just a win in order to get in on Sunday after the Brewers beat the Reds, the Mets couldn’t even score a single run against the Marlins. As a result, the Mets finished the year 0-70 when trailing after eight innings. That is not the hallmark of a good baseball team.

With the season now officially over, all there is left to do is trawl through the wreckage of a lost season that began with so much hope and excitement.

Before we do that, though, let’s review all the good and all the bad from an infuriating 2025 season. It is time for the final 3 Up, 3 Down of the year.

Juan Soto (22) & Pete Alonso (20) Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

3 UP

THE BIG THREE

As heartbreaking as the finish was, this season did still have some high points. Most notably, the “Big Three” came exactly as advertised. Juan Soto, Pete Alonso, and Francisco Lindor all produced monster seasons. That’s why the failure to make the playoffs is even more perplexing. Soto, despite getting off to a slow start in Queens, delivered quite the special first year in a Mets uniform. He hit .263/.396/.525/.921 while hitting a career-high 43 home runs and stealing a career-high 38 bases. Soto also led all of baseball in walks with 127, setting a Mets’ single-season franchise record along the way. The highlights were a red-hot June, followed by a strong finish where Soto carried this team on his shoulders at times. His first season in Queens did not finish the way he would have wanted it to, granted. However, we saw enough to know that Soto continues to be the real deal.

Meanwhile, Lindor also made some history by becoming just the first shortstop in MLB history to compile four seasons of 25+ home runs and 25+ stolen bases. Lindor and Soto also became just the third pair of teammates in all of baseball to go 30/30 in the same season. Yes, Lindor did have cold spells throughout the season. However, the shortstop still hit .267/.346/.466/.811 with 86 RBIs.

As for Alonso, the slugger officially took over as the Mets’ new home run king, surpassing Darryl Strawberry‘s mark of 252. Alonso finished the year with 264 career home runs after hitting 38 in 2025, while amassing 126 RBIs and 41 doubles—the latter of which is tied for the most in the National League and a personal best. Alonso was also consistently clutch for the Mets, finishing with a .309 batting average with RISP. Having confirmed that he will opt out of his contract this winter, it remains to be seen if the slugger has played his last game in a Mets uniform. Making Alonso a forever Met should be a priority for the front office.

David Banks-Imagn Images

SHUTDOWN MAGICIAN

Edwin Díaz is one of the best closers in all of baseball. Period. He proved that once again, thanks to a dominant 2025 season on the mound. The three-time All-Star finished with a 1.63 ERA and 28 saves over 66 1/3 innings. Furthermore, Díaz compiled a 0.87 WHIP with 98 strikeouts. Beyond the stats, the righty stepped up and consistently delivered clutch moments in big spots. If the inaugural Relief Pitcher of the Year award started this season, Diaz would likely win the NL’s version. That’s even more remarkable when you consider how bad the rest of the bullpen was for the majority of the year.

With no real concrete setup man behind him for the large chunk of the season, Díaz still pitched at an elite level. It remains to be seen if Díaz will opt out of his contract this winter. (He likely will.) Given that he pitched at an elite level in 2025, it will be important that the Mets try to keep their electric closer in Queens.

ROOKIE PHENOM

The only real saving grace for Mets fans during an awful stretch run was Nolan McLean. The rookie was called up in August after lighting up Triple-A and didn’t disappoint. He didn’t seem fazed by the big lights of New York, instead stepping right up and putting on a show in his MLB debut. After striking out eight in his first start against Seattle, McLean only went from strength to strength. He looked like a seasoned veteran out on the mound, consistently giving his team length while looking like an ace every time he pitched. Therefore, the final stats shouldn’t shock you too much.

McLean finished with a stellar 2.06 ERA, while striking out 57 with a 1.042 WHIP over 48 innings pitched. He likely would have been the Game 1 starter if the Mets had made it to the postseason. In any case, with the starting rotation in flux heading into the offseason, McLean figures to be a huge part of the Mets’ plans in 2026 and beyond. Maybe the one silver lining of 2025 will be that we saw the emergence of a future stud ace.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

NON-STARTER

The 2025 Mets had many flaws. However, arguably the biggest and most significant flaw was the starting pitching. Kodai Senga couldn’t stay healthy and was no good when he did return. Sean Manaea was not the pitcher he was in 2024, never really ramping up after starting the year injured. Frankie Montas was a bust. Griffin Canning was a positive until he got hurt. David Peterson was the ace of the staff until he fell off a cliff after the All-Star break. As a result, a once-dominant pitching staff quickly turned into a pumpkin. The Mets once boasted the best team ERA in baseball, but they finished the year with a 5.31 ERA. The starters had a 5.27 ERA from June 13 on.

While the front office had success with the current pitching philosophy and pitching lab in 2024, it clearly didn’t work this year. Hope is not a strategy—nor is expecting three rookie pitchers to save the season. Reclamation projects may work out every now and then, but expecting to have a 100% hit rate with that strategy is unrealistic. If the Mets want to bounce back in 2026, they will need to invest in more sure things in the starting rotation.

Mark Vientos (27) Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD

Nearly everything David Stearns touched in 2024 turned to gold. Nearly everything he touched in 2025 turned to dust. The president of baseball operations did not have a good year, and he does deserve a large slice of the blame here. As we trawl through the wreckage of a lost season, Stearns’ fingerprints can be found all over the damage. Outside of signing Juan Soto and bringing back Pete Alonso, Stearns got little right in 2025. His pitching philosophy blew up in his face. He never really addressed the lack of offense from center field. He misplayed the battle for third base. Maybe moving Mark Vientos in the offseason would have been the smart move. And none of the moves made at the Trade Deadline worked. In fact, they only served to make the Mets worse.

Additionally, Stearns’ failure to acquire another starter at the deadline ultimately came back to bite this team. He’s also got a lot to prove this offseason, and he owned up to the roster construction on Monday. A failure to rethink the overall approach and address all this team’s flaws could lead to further regression in 2026. Now is the time to pivot and go back to the drawing board.

DUGOUT SHORTCOMINGS

Like Stearns, Carlos Mendoza could do little wrong in 2024. However, like Stearns, 2025 proved to be a very different story for Mendoza. In his second year as a manager, Mendoza seemed out of his depth as the wheels began to fall off. He struggled to manage the pitching staff. His bullpen management was horrible and perplexing at times. He never figured out a way to balance the lineup and get more out of the bottom hitters. The fact that the Mets didn’t know who they were going to put on the mound for Sunday’s do-or-die game is an indictment on Mendoza.

Additionally, his in-game management left a lot to be desired. He got it wrong on multiple occasions when it came to pinch-hitting or -running situations, including in Sunday’s finale. Starling Marte was available on the bench—why wasn’t he used? This was just a fundamentally unsound baseball team, and the manager has to take some of the blame for that. Furthermore, as much as it is on the players to execute, a manager is there to prepare and motivate his players. The fact this team looked so lifeless for the best part of four months is a red flag, as were the litany of sloppy mistakes and mental errors. They just didn’t look ready at times, and, again, that’s on Mendoza, too.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets’ 2025 Season In Review appeared first on Metsmerized.

Heading into Miami with their destiny in their own hands, the Mets fumbled the bag in the biggest way possible. They lost two out of three to the Marlins to miss out on the playoffs.

While this team has been imploding for the last three-plus months, the way events unfolded this weekend will likely leave a lasting stain on this franchise for years to come.

After all, the Mets arrived in Miami on Friday, a game ahead of the Reds with three to play. The third Wild Card spot was there for the taking. Instead, New York laid an absolute egg in the opener to put Cincinnati back in the driver’s seat for the rest of the weekend. With both teams winning on Saturday, and with the Reds holding the tiebreaker, it all came down to the final day of the regular season on Sunday.

And, again, it was there for the taking. With the Reds losing to the Brewers, all the Mets had to do was win to sneak back into the playoffs. However, they were shut out 4-0 by the Marlins to seal the most embarrassing and frustrating collapse in franchise history.

We will have a special season review edition of 3 Up, 3 Down later. But, for now, let’s proceed with our regular scheduled programming…

David Banks-Imagn Images

3 UP

DOING HIS PART

It feels stupid to write about positives the day after the Mets completed their epic collapse by missing out on the playoffs. Alas, it is part of the gig, so the show must go on. Arguably one of the biggest plus points to emerge from the weekend was the clutchness of Pete Alonso. The slugger did everything in his power to try to keep the Mets alive against the Marlins. He drove in a run with an RBI double in the series opener. He led the way in an important win on Saturday with a home run and an RBI double.

Then, on Sunday, Alonso blasted a 115.9 mph rocket with the bases loaded. Sadly, luck wasn’t on his side, with the hardest-hit ball by any Met this season flying straight into the glove of Marlins outfielder Javier Sanoja. It was just one of those days and one of those seasons. However, Alonso can’t be blamed for the collapse, nor can he be blamed for the shortcomings in Miami. He did all he could.

HEROIC START

The Mets needed a hero on Saturday. And they got one in Clay Holmes. Channeling the herculean efforts of John Maineand Johan Santana, Holmes delivered a masterpiece when the Mets needed it the most. The reliever turned starter tossed six scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out two. Despite having pitched nearly 100 more innings than his normal workload, Holmes put forward his best start of the entire year. He was masterful on the mound, shutting down the Marlins and doing whatever it took to get the job done. Ultimately, it didn’t matter, but Holmes at least gave his team a fighting chance going into the final day. And that will be remembered.

MASTER OF HIS CRAFT

While the team failed as a collective unit, Edwin Díaz put together a majestic individual season in 2025. The closer was money all year for the Mets, and that continued across the final weekend in Miami. He entered the ninth inning of Saturday’s game and sealed the win with a scoreless inning. The three-time All-Star was even better on Sunday. Thanks to manager Carlos Mendoza mismanaging the pitching in the finale, Díaz was asked to come into the game in the fifth inning. He responded by delivering two scoreless innings to keep the game alive and give his offense a chance. And, according to reports, Díaz even expressed a willingness to stay in the game beyond the sixth. Like Holmes and Alonso, Díaz more than did his job this weekend.

Sep 28, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza (64) looks on against the Miami Marlins during the eighth inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

FUMBLING THE BAG

As we mentioned up top, the Mets arrived in Miami with everything in their favor. All they had to do was take care of business against an already eliminated Marlins team, and the final Wild Card spot would be theirs. However, as we’ve seen over the last three-plus months, the Mets are not a good baseball team, and we got a stark reminder of that over the weekend. An ugly, humiliating, season-changing meltdown on Friday was the start of an all-time epic collapse reaching its conclusion.

Then, needing just a win on Sunday to get in with the Reds having lost to the Brewers, the Mets couldn’t even score a single run on the way to missing the postseason most embarrassingly. Forget talent; this team just did not play with a pulse or a heart when it mattered most. They choked and put up little fight on the way to sealing an absolute bust of a season.

SELF-ENFORCED WOUNDS

The Mets only hurt themselves on the way to collapsing out of the playoffs. They did not play good baseball for two out of the three games in Miami, and they were suitably punished. Mental mistakes and self-enforced errors were the theme of the night in an ugly 6-2 loss on Friday. The offense also didn’t show, going 1-for-10 with RISP, leaving seven runners stranded on base. It was a similar story in Sunday’s finale, with the lineup finishing 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position while managing just five hits all game. Again, all the Mets had to do this weekend was win two games, and they would have now been preparing to take on the Dodgers in the Wild Card round. Instead, the same old mistakes that have plagued this team all year doomed them on the final weekend.

MANAGING TO LOSE

Carlos Mendoza was seen as a rising star after his highly successful first year in the dugout in 2024. However, a lot of that shine has now faded following a disastrous 2025 season. Mendoza made a ton of mistakes and a slew of questionable decisions this year. That was again the case in Miami. He took Brandon Sproat out of the game on Friday and opted to put in Gregory Soto, who hasn’t been great in Queens. The result? Soto allowed two more runs to score, essentially throwing away a game the Mets couldn’t afford to lose.

In a must-win game to end all other must-win games on Sunday, Mendoza’s ability to manage the game left a lot to be desired. He decided to start the struggling Sean Manaea in a big spot and then pulled him after just 1.2 innings. Mendoza then went with Brooks Raley and Ryne Stanek, who combined to allow a back-breaking three earned runs.

Edwin Díaz was warmed up in the bullpen, but Mendoza decided to put Tyler Rogers in the game first, who gave up another run to make it a 4-0 game. Díaz then entered in the fifth and pitched two scoreless innings, but by that point, it was too late. If that wasn’t bad enough, Mendoza decided not to put Starling Marte in the game as a pinch-hitter in the ninth. That’s even though Ronny Mauricio and Cedric Mullins were the first two hitters up. In a game the Mets had to win to make the playoffs, Mendoza wasn’t nearly aggressive enough. And he also needs to take blame for just how lifeless his team looked in huge spots on Friday and again on Sunday.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Wrap Up Season Implosion In Miami appeared first on Metsmerized.

After coming up clutch to take two out of three in Chicago, the Mets go into the final weekend of the regular season knowing what they need to do.

Just win and take care of business in Miami.

That’s easier said than done given this team’s history against the Marlins. But, with that said, the Mets did just grind out two huge wins against the Cubs. As a result, they very much control their own destiny.

On that note, let’s recap everything from the Cubs series in 3 Up, 3 Down…

David Banks-Imagn Images

3 UP

STRIKING OUT

Yes, Nolan McLean did allow a career-high three home runs in his outing on Thursday night. However, despite that, the rookie still recorded a career-high 11 strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings to help his team claim a vital win. It will go down as a strange outing, sure, but McLean showed his high ceiling. And, despite the five earned runs, he’s probably still in line to start Game 1 of the Wild Card. The fact that McLean was able to grind out his start despite troubles with the long ball should also be viewed as a positive.

CLUTCH HITTING

Besides the second game of the series at Wrigley, the Mets got some gargantuan hits from their offense against the Cubs. Francisco Alvarez delivered arguably one of the biggest hits of his career with a two-run blast that sealed the win in Tuesday’s opener. Brandon Nimmo also came up with a clutch three-run homer that tied the game. Then, in Thursday’s finale, Brett Baty hit a crucial three-run homer in the fourth inning that gave his team a much-needed cushion.

Credit must also go to Francisco Lindor, who enjoyed a monster series. He hit a home run in the series finale, becoming part of the 30/30 club for the third time in his career as a result. Furthermore, Lindor also led off Tuesday’s big win with a leadoff homer while also driving in three runs. All in all, the Mets got clutch hits when they needed them the most against the Cubs.

COMING UP NAILS

Speaking of clutch, the bullpen was also pretty damn impressive in Chicago. Edwin Díaz struck out five of the six batters he faced on Tuesday to help lock down the win. In all, six relievers combined to allow just one earned run in the series opener, with the bullpen called upon to take on an added workload. Ryan Helsley continued his recent resurgence in Wednesday’s game by firing two scoreless innings of relief. He’s now recorded five straight scoreless outings, allowing just two hits and two walks over that six-inning span. Then, in the finale, Díaz, Ryne Stanek, Brooks Raley and Tyler Rogers combined to toss 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just two base runners in the process. With the stakes never higher, the bullpen really delivered in Chicago.

Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

END OF THE ROAD

The season could well be over for David Peterson. Barring a bullpen role, it seems unlikely that the veteran will now be trusted in any kind of starter role in the postseason. His concerning second-half struggles continued with just a nightmare outing in the series opener on Tuesday. Peterson was absolutely shelled, giving up five runs on five hits and lasting just 1 1/3 innings. In a critical moment, Peterson came up short and then some. Since the All-Star break, Peterson is pitching to a 6.34 ERA with a 1.16 WHIP. It sure appears as though Peterson is broken, and now is not the time to try and fix him.

TOUGH SPOT

If you want to know just how badly the Mets’ pitching philosophy has failed this year, look at Wednesday night as all the evidence you’ll ever need. Jonah Tong allowed five earned runs on seven hits across just two innings. The rookie has now given up five or more earned runs in two of his last three starts. But it isn’t Tong’s fault. He shouldn’t even be pitching in games that matter this much. He’s clearly not ready, but because of how big a hot mess the rotation is, the Mets have no choice but to throw a young starter right into the fire. It just isn’t fair. And relying on three rookie starters will more than likely burn this team come playoff time.

SLOPPY MESS

As big a series win as this was for the Mets, it is important not to get carried away. After all, they won a monster game on Tuesday only to lay a Godzilla-sized egg the very next night. And it wasn’t pretty. The team committed a bunch of self-enforced mental mistakes on the way to being beat up in a 10-3 loss. Clay Holmes committed a wild pitch and then compounded the matter with a boneheaded mental error. Sean Manaea did not look good out of the bullpen. Mark Vientos couldn’t make a routine play at the hot corner, directly leading to a five-run third inning. And the offense could only manage just four hits all night long. The Mets have proven over the last three-and-a-half months that they are a bad baseball team. They also seem incapable of building any kind of momentum. That page must now be turned in Miami if this team really wants to save its season.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Come Through In Chicago appeared first on Metsmerized.

After dropping two out of three to the lowly Nationals over the weekend, the Mets are on the outside in. They are officially out of playoff position for the first time since April 5.

And, with the Reds owning the tiebreaker, the Mets don’t exactly have their own destiny in their hands anymore with just six games remaining.

This weekend could not have gone any worse for New York, who dropped two games thanks to a string of self-enforced errors. That was despite beating up on the Nationals in a series-opening win on Friday night.

On that note, let’s recap the mostly bad, as well as some good, from the Washington series in today’s 3 Up, 3 Down…

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

3 UP

SLICE OF HOPE

As of right now, there is no guarantee that the Mets will even make the playoffs. And, given how they’ve been playing for three plus months, it wouldn’t be surprising if they did miss out. But, with that said, there is some hope to hang your hat on if this team does make it. And that’s Juan Soto. Yes, he had a couple of moments to forget in Saturday’s game. But on Friday, Soto showed just how dangerous a weapon he can be. He set a new career-high with his 42nd home run of the year, which happened to cap off a six-run inning. The three-run blast blew the game wide open and effectively won the game. Soto also finished 2-for-3 with two runs, three RBIs, two walks, and a stolen base. In other words, he did everything to help lead his team to a big win. And, should the Mets make the playoffs, that version of Soto will be key to surviving past the Wild Card round.

DEPENDABLE ARM

Nolan McLean is rapidly turning into a consistent and dependable front-of-the-rotation starter. The rookie delivered five innings of one earned run ball during his outing on Saturday, striking out six. As a result, McLean now has a 1.27 ERA on the year. He has proven that he belongs in the big leagues. He’s also proven that he could start Game 1 of a Wild Card series if needed. There isn’t a whole lot to get excited about with the Mets right now, but McLean is certainly one of them.

WORTHY EFFORT

The bullpen deserves a lot of credit for its efforts over the weekend. Outside of one or two individuals, the relief pitching was largely solid. Five relievers combined to toss 4 2/3 scoreless innings on Friday, while the bullpen didn’t allow a single run until the 11th inning on Saturday. Then, on Sunday, Clay Holmes combined with three other relievers to provide 5 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. It was just a shame the bullpen didn’t have more to show for its overall body of work against the Nationals.

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

THROWING IT ALL AWAY 

The Mets entered the weekend with their destiny still in their own hands. However, just days later, that isn’t the case anymore. By dropping two out of three to a bad Nationals team, the Mets are now out of a playoff position for the first time since April 5. And, with the Reds owning the tiebreaker, things could get really tricky the rest of the way. What makes the series loss over the weekend even worse is the fact that the Mets handed the series on a plate to Washington. Bad pitching, sloppy defense, a lack of clutch hitting, and just a real lack of urgency all combined to doom the Mets. And, if they do end up missing the playoffs, they only have themselves to blame. And this weekend will go down as the death knell.

HERE WE GO AGAIN

We’re back to square one with Sean Manaea. The veteran offered some hope with a strong outing against the Padres last time out. However, in his latest start against the Nationals on Sunday, Manaea was back to looking like a lost pitcher on the mound. He gave up three runs early and was pulled after just three innings. And those runs proved too much for the Mets to overcome. It appears as though Manaea won’t be a factor if New York does make the postseason. And it also remains to be seen if he can right the ship for 2026.

CURSED

Sports curses are a funny thing – unless you are a Jets fan – and Mets fans probably won’t be laughing about curses today, either. In a close game on Sunday, the door was still open for the Mets’ offense to do something late in the game. For instance, Francisco Alvarez came to the plate in the ninth and hit what looked to be a sure-thing, game-tying home run. Instead, Nationals outfielder Jacob Young pulled off a home run robbery to end all other home run robberies. It was Young’s second jaw-dropping play after pulling off some insane wizardry in the fifth inning. Young had the game of his life defensively, and he ruined the entire weekend for the Mets. Maybe even the season, depending on how things shake out. But if the Mets do fail to make the playoffs, Young’s brilliance in the outfield will haunt them for a long, long time.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Drop Near-Fatal Series To Nats appeared first on Metsmerized.

With the end of the regular season fast approaching, the Mets moved another step closer to securing a postseason berth after taking the series from the San Diego Padres.

The Mets took two out of three from San Diego at Citi Field. As a result, New York is now a full two games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Cincinnati Reds for the final Wild Card spot in the National League. The Mets are also three games ahead of the Giants with nine games remaining.

Now 48-30 at Citi Field this season, the Mets very much have their destiny in their own hands as we hit the stretch run. It is now time to get the job done.

Before we reach that point, however, let’s recap everything from the Padres series in 4 Up, 2 Down…

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

4 UP

CHICKS DIG THE LONG BALL

We saw the full explosive potential of this offense throughout the Padres series. The lineup hit 10 home runs in the three games, which is the franchise’s most in a three-game series at home, per Elias. Now that’s impressive. What is also impressive is the fact that this offense now looks like a unit that can cause some damage in October. We saw how this lineup was able to blow away San Diego with brute force. Even in the loss on Wednesday, the offense was able to claw its way back into the game thanks to hitting four homers. Furthermore, the Mets have scored a total of 249 runs since August 1 – the second-most in the majors. If the pitching can sort itself out, then this offense has a chance to really set this team up for success in the postseason.

UNSTOPPABLE POWER SURGE

Pete Alonso seems determined to drag the Mets across the finish line all on his own. The slugger has now hit a home run in four consecutive games. All in all, Alonso finished with three homers, five runs scored and four RBIs against the Padres. Consequently, he now sits fourth in franchise history for the most RBIs in a single season with 121. This current captain clutch version of Alonso could give the Mets a real edge come playoff time.

BOUNCING BACK

Full kudos to Jonah Tong. Not only did the rookie bounce back from a nightmare start, but he also showed why he could be a weapon in the playoffs. The righty looked like a seasoned veteran in his outing against San Diego on Thursday, striking out eight and allowing just one unearned run over five stellar innings. Tong looked untouchable, retiring the final seven batters he faced and striking out four in a row at one point. His four-seam fastball was absolutely lethal and did the most damage. Tong showed a lot of maturity to respond the way he did to adversity. He also showed the kind of high upside that could see him play a starring role in October.

SIGNS OF HOPE

The Mets opted to piggyback Clay Holmes and Sean Manaea for Tuesday’s game. The experiment paid off. Both pitchers pitched well, with Manaea’s outing being particularly encouraging. The lefty allowed just one earned run – a solo homer – while striking out four over five solid innings. Not only did Manaea look good, but he also offered hope that maybe his best stuff could still be to come. Furthermore, maybe the strategy of piggybacking Holmes and Manaea could be one that potentially pays off in the playoffs.

Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

2 DOWN

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM

The Mets officially have a David Peterson problem. The lefty struggled yet again in his latest outing on Wednesday, allowing six earned runs. That included a back-breaking grand slam that changed the entire tenor of the game. As a result of his latest struggles, Peterson now owns a 7.59 ERA over his last eight starts, allowing a total of 34 earned runs. That isn’t good. Furthermore, Peterson just hasn’t looked like the same pitcher since the All-Star break. He looked gassed and devoid of any confidence on Wednesday, which also isn’t good. If the Mets want to go deep in October, they will need Peterson to go back to the big-innings ace he was in the first half.

SETBACKS

Injuries continue to bite the Mets. Francisco Alvarez was hit on the arm yet again during Tuesday’s series opener. While it seems the catcher has escaped serious injury, you wonder how many more knocks he can take before he breaks completely. Plus, it is hard to get into a rhythm when you are constantly being hurt and removed from games. Meanwhile, Reed Garrett was placed back on the IL with a right elbow strain. Tommy John surgery is a possibility. If Garrett is indeed done for the year, then that will require another body to step up in the bullpen. As streaky as Garrett has been, this bullpen can’t really afford to lose key arms.

The post 4 Up, 2 Down: Mets Show Off Power Against Padres appeared first on Metsmerized.

All in all, it was another tough weekend for the Mets as the losing streak stretched to eight consecutive games. They also dropped their sixth straight series after losing the first two games to the Rangers.

Things looked pretty bleak.

However, some extra-inning heroics in the series finale on Sunday helped stretch the team’s Wild Card lead to 1.5 games. It is amazing what just one win can do for morale and overall sentiment.

And, on that note, let’s dive into another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

3 UP

CORNER TURNED?

The Mets were seemingly in utter free fall heading into Sunday’s game. They had lost eight straight and had played awful baseball over that stretch. Consequently, New York’s playoff chances had dropped by the day. Another blown lead prompted fears that a ninth consecutive loss was nearing. However, Pete Alonso had something to say about that. The slugger came up with a huge three-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the 10th to snap the losing streak. It was just what the doctor ordered. Alonso’s heroics ensured the Mets stretched their Wild Card lead to 1.5 games. That electric moment could also serve as a real turning point for this team. As an aside, Alonso now has the most career walk-off home runs in Mets history with five.

LAYING THE BASE

The key to the Mets winning on Sunday was that Nolan McLean gave his team a solid foundation on which to build. The rookie continued his impressive start to life in the majors with another eye-catching outing. McLean tossed six scoreless innings while allowing five hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. As a result, the righty now owns a 1.19 ERA. If this continues, McLean could well be the main focal point of this rotation in the playoffs.

MATURE BEYOND HIS YEARS

Much like McLean, Brandon Sproat looks like a seasoned veteran out on the mound. The righty built on his impressive debut with a stellar outing on Saturday. He didn’t allow a run over six solid innings, striking out three with no walks. It was a real statement start by Sproat, who looks ready to contribute to this team on a full-time basis. Out of the three rookie starters, Sproat came up with less fanfare. However, two starts in, he certainly looks like an MLB starter who is ready to make an impact.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

AVOIDABLE SETBACK

It was impossible not to feel for Jonah Tong in the wake of Friday’s train wreck. The rookie was shelled in just his third major league start. He allowed six earned runs on four hits over just 0.2 innings and never recovered. After the game, Tong looked and sounded like a broken man. It was a tough watch. You can also make a compelling argument that Tong should never have been put in such a huge spot this early in his career. That’s another black mark on the front office and their pitching philosophy. Similar types of outings could risk derailing Tong’s future development. And that just can’t be allowed to happen.

UGLY WATCH

Saturday’s loss was not pretty. Gosh, was it ugly. The Mets committed a slew of basic errors in the field, on the mound, and on the bases. They couldn’t get any of the fundamentals right. Furthermore, the offense went 1-for-10 with RISP, leaving a total of 12 runners stranded. All in all, the Mets played fundamentally bad baseball over the eight-game losing streak, and beyond that, too. And, as important as Sunday’s win was, one victory won’t change anything unless this team can get its act together and play clean baseball the rest of the way.

BULLPEN BLUNDERS

The bullpen somewhat redeemed itself with a strong outing on Sunday. However, you also can’t whitewash what took place over the first two games of the series. Gregory Soto allowed a pair of runs in the series opener on Friday. As a result, he now owns an ugly 9.45 ERA in seven appearances for the Mets. Then, on Saturday, Sproat’s fine effort was ruined by Tyler Rogers and Edwin Díaz combining to throw the game away. Brooks Raley also gave up a pair of runs to blow the lead in the finale, although his teammates bailed him out. Sunday aside, there are still a slew of question marks hovering over this bullpen.

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Mired in yet another alarming slump, the Mets were easily swept aside by the Philadelphia Phillies in a four-game sweep. As a result, New York has now lost six-straight games.

Consequently, the Mets are all but dead in the race for the NL East with the Phillies a full 11 games ahead. Furthermore, the Mets are just 1 1/2 games ahead of the Cincinnati Reds and the San Francisco Giants for the final Wild Card spot in the National League.

All in all, the Mets are seeing their chances of making the playoffs drop by the day. And, even if this team were to make the postseason, they look like the exact opposite of a World Series contender.

On that note, let’s recap all the bad and all the ugly from a week to forget. Let’s proceed with a one-off edition of 2 Up, 4 Down…

Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

2 UP 

STAR IN THE MAKING

Nolan McLean is arguably one of only two bright spots for the Mets right now. We’ll get to the other one shortly. For now, McLean continues to impress. The rookie gave up just one run over 5.1 innings while striking five and walking three on Monday. McLean did his job and gave his team every chance to win. Sadly, the offense couldn’t hold up their end of the bargain. However, McLean now owns a stellar 1.42 ERA and continues to look like a potential future workhorse.

ELITE SUPERSTAR 

Time for the second and final bright spot as it pertains to the Mets. Juan Soto is playing at the superstar level he’s been used to his entire career. The elite hitter has been the only real constant for this offense, and he was the only real threat in this series. Soto reached base in all four games, going a combined 5-for-16 with five runs scored and two RBIs. He’s hitting .357/.419/.643/.1.062 with two homers, two doubles, five runs scored, four RBIs, three walks and five stolen bases over his last seven games. Furthermore, Soto stole his 30th base of the season during this series, recording his first career 30/30 campaign. He also became just the fifth Met to achieve that milestone. All in all, Soto is everything the Mets need him to be right now.

Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

4 DOWN

ALL-TIME LOW

Right, time now for the negatives. The Mets seem to be hitting new lows almost every week, and the Phillies series will go down as one of the lowest. Not only were the Mets swept, but they didn’t put up a fight in any of the four games. In fact, this team looked non-competitive and didn’t have a pulse. More concerning is the fact that this team just didn’t play with any urgency in Philadelphia. That’s despite the fact that a playoff spot is far from guaranteed. Sure, the starting pitching stinks right now, the bullpen is a mess and the offense is just way too hot and cold. However, with all that said, the lack of fight, heart and hustle is a really troubling sign. Something just seems off with this current group.

FALLING STARS

As we’ve already mentioned, the Mets are getting little offensive production outside of Soto. That includes from the other three members of the so-called “Fab Four.” Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo went a combined 7-for-46 with just one extra-base hit in four games against Philadelphia. That just isn’t good enough. Furthermore, over their last seven games, Lindor is hitting .208/.367/.333/.700, Nimmo is slashing just .160/.207/.160/.367 and Alonso is hitting .179/.233/.250/.483. The top of the lineup should be absolutely mashing this time of year. But, outside of Soto, that just isn’t happening. The Mets’ big-time players are shrinking on the biggest stage.

UNWANTED HISTORY

Thursday was the embarrassing icing on top of the embarrassing cake for the Mets. After scoring four or more runs in the first inning, the Mets then failed to have a single player reach base the rest of the game. That’s the first time that has happened in the modern era, per OPTA Stats. If that isn’t embarrassing, then I don’t know what is. But that also sums up everything wrong with this team right now. Even when things are going good, they aren’t sustainable. The Mets built a big lead early but couldn’t hold on, instead collapsing to a humiliating defeat while not putting up any single resistance. Whatever the opposite of clutch is, this team is its very definition.

PITCHING HOUSE OF HORRORS 

Pitching was a total nightmare across the board for New York in this series. Outside of Nolan McLean, the starting pitching was not good. Sean Manaea allowed four earned runs and lasted just five innings on Tuesday. Clay Holmes also gave up four earned runs in his outing on Wednesday. Then, in Thursday’s series finale, David Peterson allowed three earned runs on seven hits while lasting just five innings. We’re in September and the Mets still aren’t getting length from their veteran starters. Even Peterson has regressed in that area as his struggles continue. As for the bullpen, the unit was hardly effective outside of Monday’s game. Reed Garrett allowed three earned runs and gave up the lead in Thursday’s game. All in all, pitching is just a non-factor for the Mets right now. Outside of the rookies, obviously.

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Taking two out of three, or even sweeping the series against the Reds, would have all but closed the door on Cincinnati’s postseason chances.
Instead, the Mets dropped two of three in another frustrating weekend. As a result, the NL East race looks all but over. Furthermore, the race for the playoffs is far from being a forgone conclusion with three weeks of the regular season remaining.

On that note, let’s dive straight into another edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

New York Mets pitcher Brandon Sproat (40) pitches in the first inning between Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Sept. 7, 2025.

3 UP

ROOKIE DELIGHT

The wait to see Brandon Sproat arrive in the majors was well worth it. The righty made his Major League Baseball debut on Sunday, allowing three earned runs on three hits and four walks over six innings. He became just the second Mets pitcher since 1974 to have a no-hit bid of at least 5.1 innings in his MLB debut. Despite eventually giving up three runs, Sproat did not look overmatched. Instead, he looked like a seasoned veteran out on the mound. It is just one start, but we got a glimpse of what Sproat could be for this team both now and in the future.

HOUDINI ACT

The Mets’ only win in this series came on Friday night. And they had Edwin Díaz to thank for ultimately not being swept. Coming in to protect a one-run lead in the ninth, Díaz quickly loaded the bases with no outs. To compound matters, the closer suffered a weird cleat malfunction that only added more pressure to an already tense situation. However, equipped with a pair of new cleats, Díaz proceeded to work his way out of an almighty jam. The all-time highlight? Díaz sprinted to cover first base and combine with Luisangel Acuña for an all-time defensive play to record the final out. The rest of the weekend was a wash for New York. However, Díaz’s Houdini heroics served as a welcome reminder of just how critical the closer is to this bullpen.

BAILED OUT

The Mets were probably busy thanking the Baseball Gods on Sunday night. Despite dropping the series to the Reds, both the Giants and the Diamondbacks lost on Sunday. Consequently, New York maintains a four-game cushion on the rest of the field in the race for the final Wild Card spot in the National League. However, the Reds now own the tiebreaker over the Mets, and that could prove critical come the end of the season. It still looks incredibly likely that the Mets will make the playoffs. However, with the NL East race all but over, they can’t afford to keep dropping series like the one in Cincinnati.

New York Mets pitcher Jonah Tong (21) delivers a pitch in the first inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.

3 DOWN

WELCOME TO THE SHOW

After an impressive debut, Jonah Tong got a taste of just how hard life in the big leagues can be on Saturday. The rookie gave up four runs in six innings of work, including three home runs. It was a tough second act for Tong, who also didn’t get a whole lot of run support, either. The first home run allowed – a two-run blast in the second inning – really set the tone for the rest of the game. However, all rookies will face challenges early on in their careers, and Tong did show some grit and poise by finishing his outing strong.

UNWANTED DEVELOPMENT

The Mets’ ceiling in the postseason may be very low unless David Peterson can find a way out of his current slump. The lefty was better in his last outing on Friday, but still wasn’t exactly great. He gave up four earned runs on seven hits across just 5.1 innings. As a result, Peterson has now allowed 27 earned runs over his last seven starts. He owns an ugly 6.69 ERA over that span. Peterson has been the reliable anchor for this rotation for the majority of 2025. His ability to be an absolute workhorse will be needed in the playoffs. If he continues to struggle, it will put tremendous pressure on the three rookie starters to carry the team in October. And that may be a bridge too far this early in their respective careers.

NOTHING DOING

The offense didn’t make it easy for the pitching staff all weekend long. They scratched out just enough runs to win Friday’s game, although it was too close for comfort. The lineup then managed a total of four runs in the final two games of the series. That just won’t get the job done. Nor will going a combined 5-for-20 with runners in scoring position, leaving a total of 22 runners stranded on base. Despite the likes of Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor staying hot, the offense just couldn’t come through with a crucial hit in the biggest moments. The glaring example of that came on Sunday when Starling Marte grounded into a double play with two runners on in the ninth. The Mets can’t afford to slip back into old offensive habits this close to October. It could end up costing them dearly.

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They took two out of three from the Tigers, who are now the second-best team in the American League. However, another bad outing from a struggling reliever ensured a series sweep was a bridge too far.

Nonetheless, the Mets rebounded from an embarrassing series loss to the Marlins and took care of business against a very good Detroit team. That isn’t to be sniffed at.

So, with that in mind, let’s recap all the good and all the bad from the Tigers series in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

3 UP

HERO BALL

Juan Soto is now becoming everything the Mets have wished for and so much more. The superstar hitter has been on an absolute heater as of late. He’s also made a habit of coming up in big spots and putting this team on his shoulders. Just look at his body of work in the Detroit series. Soto enjoyed his biggest day to date in a Mets uniform on Monday, posting six RBIs with a homer and a triple. That included a go-ahead grand slam in the fourth inning. For someone who has struggled with runners on base all year, that was a huge moment.

Soto also hit another homer on Tuesday, while he reached base twice and scored a run in the series finale on Wednesday. All in all, the star is hitting .417/.576/.1.125/.1.701 with 12 RBIs over his last seven games. This is the version of Soto the Mets have been waiting for.

GUTS & HEART

We’ve marveled at Nolan McLean‘s filthy stuff and high ceiling. And, thanks to his outing on Tuesday, we were able to see a different side to his game. The rookie struggled out of the gate, giving up a pair of runs in the first inning. Going up against one of the best teams in baseball, it looked set to be a long night. Instead, McLean put on his big boy pants and displayed a boatload of toughness and mental fortitude on the mound. He didn’t allow another run after that first inning, making adjustments on the fly to still give his team six innings. It was yet another tantalizing sign of McLean’s maturity and overall poise. He looks like a battle-hardened veteran out there, and it is impressive. In a rotation that is full of question marks, McLean is quickly becoming the one sure thing.

STEPPING UP

Not for the first time, Luis Torrens has really delivered with Francisco Alvarez out of the lineup. That was certainly the case in Detroit. Torrens came up with a couple of monster hits in huge spots, further underlining his value to this team. The first of those hits came in the opener on Monday. He came up with a two-run double in the top of the second inning to give his team the lead, finishing the day 3-for-3. Then, the following day, Torrens really came up clutch with a game-changing three-run homer in the fourth to set the tone and start a five-run inning. The offense never looked back following Torrens’ big-time home run. As a result, he’s now hitting .353/.389/.765 over his last six games. Torrens has really provided the Mets with some high-end stability behind the plate.

Photo Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

TRADE DEADLINE BUST

The Ryan Helsley experiment has not been a good one. The veteran reliever has struggled greatly since being acquired at the trade deadline. Those struggles only continued in Detroit. After allowing a run on Monday, Helsley was trusted to pitch in a big spot in the finale on Wednesday. Coming into a one-run game, Helsley gave up a three-run home run to blow the game wide open and effectively seal the loss for the Mets. Now, you can certainly question Carlos Mendoza‘s decision to put Helsley in the game with his team trailing by just a run. Regardless, Helsley just looks broken and he’s now allowed 14 earned runs in just 11 innings as a Met. To put that into some context, 13.6% of Helsley’s earned runs and 3.5% of his career innings pitched have come in a Mets uniform. And at this point, the veteran just isn’t pitchable anymore.

RUNNING OUT OF IDEAS

What do you do with Sean Manaea? The lefty just doesn’t look like the same pitcher right now. He struggled yet again in his latest outing on Monday, giving up five earned runs in just 3.2 innings. That included a pair of homers. Consequently, Manaea has now allowed a total of 19 earned runs in his last five outings alone. He’s failed to pitch beyond the fifth inning in any of those starts. We’re in the final month of the regular season now and Manaea is only heading in one direction. The Mets will need stellar pitching in order to go on a deep run in October. Manaea figuring it out will be key to that.

OFF DAY

Wednesday’s loss proved to be frustrating all around. One mistake from the bullpen ultimately proved to be the difference. However, with the Mets trailing by just one run heading into the seventh inning, the offense also has to take some of the blame. The lineup went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position, leaving nine runners stranded on base. There were opportunities, including a bases-loaded situation in the sixth. However, Starling Marte swung on the first pitch he saw and grounded out into an inning-ending double play. That summed up the offense’s day.

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Days after sweeping the Phillies in dominating fashion, the Mets dropped three of four to the lowly Marlins. Consequently, all the momentum and all the hope disappeared just as quickly as it had returned.

Not only is losing a series to a team under .500 this late in the season concerning, but New York also lost ground in the standings. This team is now six games behind the Phillies for the NL East lead, while the Reds have made some ground in the chase for the final Wild Card spot.

All in all, it was not a good weekend for the Mets. There were some highs, but they were overshadowed by a multitude of negatives. And, on that note, let’s recap everything from the Marlins series in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Jonah Tong by Roberto Carlo

3 UP

GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE

For the second time in a matter of weeks, a Mets rookie made his Major League debut. And, as was the case with Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong balled out in his first introduction to the big leagues. The righty allowed just one earned run on six hits with no walks and six strikeouts across five full innings on Friday night. Tong was impressive on the mound, showing off his lethal fastball and his tantalizing mix of pitches. He also showed a lot of mental fortitude to battle through traffic to record his first career Major League win. It was just one start, but Tong showed a lot of promise and a lot of hope.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Aside from Sunday’s game, the offense continued on its upward trajectory in the series against the Marlins. The lineup put up a total of 31 runs in the first three games of the series, yet somehow won just one of them. The high point came on Friday night when the Mets piled on 19 runs – the most runs scored at home in franchise history. The lineup also amassed eight runs and hit three homers in a valiant comeback that just fell short on Saturday. Furthermore, as well as the likes of Francisco Lindor and Mark Vientos staying hot, the Mets continued to mash with RISP.

For the most part, anyway. Entering Saturday’s game, the Mets were hitting .379 with runners in scoring position in August – the best mark in the majors. That included going an impressive 8-for-9 on Friday. This offense has also hit 53 homers in August – the most in franchise history. So, despite losing this series, the lineup still showed signs of hitting its peak at just the right time.

SIGNATURE MOMENT

Yes, it didn’t matter in the end. But, in the moment, Juan Soto‘s clutch home run on Saturday felt pretty significant. The superstar hitter blasted a two-run missile in the sixth inning to make it a tied game. That came after the Marlins had led 8-2 at one point. Of course, the Mets couldn’t get the job done, eventually losing the game 11-8. But the fact that Soto came up with such a huge hit in a monster spot should be seen as a major positive. It was Soto’s first real signature moment in a long, long time in a Mets uniform.

Furthermore, it was a step in the right direction, given that Soto has struggled with runners in scoring position for most of the year. He has seemingly turned a notable corner in that regard as of late. It was also a big series for Soto, who hit three homers with six runs scored and five RBIs in four games against the Marlins. Soto being this locked in at this stage of the season is a very good sign for the Mets.

Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

GROWING CONCERN 

There is something broken with Kodai Senga right now. The former ace hasn’t been good since his return, and he isn’t showing any signs of turning it around, either. Take his latest start on Sunday, for instance. Senga allowed five earned runs on seven hits with two walks and six strikeouts. And, as has been the case throughout his skid, the righty again struggled with his command. He threw just 43 of his 75 pitches for strikes and lasted just 4.2 innings. Since coming off the IL, Senga has allowed three or more runs six times. He’s also yet to complete six innings in any of those starts. Unless things turn around soon, the Mets may need to think outside the box to fix Senga in time for October.

MOUND MISERY 

Take the two rookie phenoms out of the equation, and the Mets are still dealing with the same old problems with their starting rotation. That was on full ugly display throughout the weekend. David Peterson put together an all-time stinker on Saturday, allowing eight earned runs over just two innings of work. That was especially damaging given just how reliable Peterson has been all year. Clay Holmes also struggled in his outing on Thursday, committing a costly error while giving up two earned runs over five innings. All in all, outside of Jonah Tong’s stellar outing on Friday, the Mets were let down by their starting rotation against Miami.

MULTIPLE CLUNKERS

As dominant and as efficient as the Mets were against the Phillies, they were the exact opposite against the Marlins. The term sloppy baseball comes to mind. New York failed to play clean baseball throughout this series, committing a total of six errors, including two in Friday’s win. The Mets made a habit of kicking the ball around in all four games, with the three losses all ugly. Plus, the team just couldn’t put it all together at any point, outside of Friday night. The starting pitching doomed the offense for the most part, while the bullpen also had its ugly moments. The offense was largely red-hot before being shut down in Sunday’s game. And, by dropping three of four to the under .500 Marlins, the Mets effectively kissed the NL East goodbye. The Mets now have a .412 win percentage over their last 68 games – only five teams have been worse. That doesn’t scream a World Series contender.

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