Photo Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

Chase Rate Percentage

With the Mets down 3-1 in the seventh inning on Sunday against the Rockies, Brett Baty waved at a 1-1 pitch well out of the strike zone. Two pitches later he struck out looking. Per Baseball Savant, the Mets are 25th in the league in chase rate percentage, a stat that measures swinging at balls out of the strike zone.

New York’s chase rate percentage is at 32.1. For reference, the Yankees lead the league at 25.8 and the Blue Jays and Rockies are tied with a league-worst 34.1. League average is 29.7.

The worst offender in the lineup regularly by far is Bo Bichette at 41.8 (his worst since 2020), but he’s not alone. Mark Vientos is at 33.8% and Luis Robert Jr. is at 32.1%. Baty is at 31.8%, up from 24.9% last season. Francisco Alvarez‘s 31% is up from 27.8% last year and the highest it’s been since his rookie year. Marcus Semien is at 29.1%, up from 23.4% a year ago. Carson Benge is at 26%. Juan Soto, one of the best at knowing the strike zone, is at 17% for his career. He’s at 24.2% this year through 13 games.

This is “pressing” quantified.

Photo Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Saves

A sneaky way to avoid blowing saves is to not give yourself too many chances and the Mets are last in save opportunities with six. But how have the Mets done in save situations? They are 2-for-6, tied with the Angels (4-for-12) for the worst conversion percentage in the league. Next worst is the Nationals (6-for-16) at 37.5%, so the bullpens could provide some drama in the three-game series that starts Tuesday at Citi Field.

Of the 30 teams, 25 are at 50% or better. The Braves have converted 11 of 12 to lead MLB.

Huascar Brazobán blew a save against the Twins last week when he gave up a grand slam in the eighth inning in a game the Mets ultimately won. Devin Williams blew a one-run, ninth-inning lead against the Cubs on April 19. The Mets lost that game in the 10th.

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Hitting with Runners in Scoring Position

Look, all of the hitting numbers are ugly. Overall, the Mets are slashing .226/.288/.337/.625. The Mets’ league-worst OPS is 31 points back of the next-to-last Phillies. The Dodgers lead the majors with an .821 OPS. The only Met posting a better number than that is Soto (.831).

So, you could say the Mets are “stepping it up” with runners in scoring position since they are slashing .232/.313/.336/.649, which ranks 22nd/23rd/26th/27th. But I’d call that misleading (and clever). Only the Cardinals, Blue Jays and Royals have a lower OPS with runners in scoring position.

In that 3-1 loss to the Rockies on Sunday, the Mets had the bases loaded and one out in the first inning. Semien struck out swinging and Baty was caught looking. In the eighth, they were loaded again with one out. Robert fouled out and Vientos struck out swinging.

A year ago their team OPS was .753, sixth in MLB. And with RISP, it was .803, which came in third behind the Dodgers and Blue Jays.

But Wait, There’s More

A few other bonus nuggets: The Mets have stolen 16 bases, which is tied for 21st in the league. Last season they finished fifth. Is it the Antoan Richardson Effect? The jury is out. The Braves were 26th in steals last year and are now tied for 25th.

Are you part of the problem? Attendance at Citi Field is down from an average of 39,775 last season (fifth in MLB) to 36,110 (seventh). Maybe we all need to look in the mirror. (Kidding!)

The post Three Trends Contributing to the Mets’ Poor Play appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

While it is still April, this team appears to be broken. And there doesn’t appear to be any tangible sign of a turnaround on the horizon, either.

Instead, the Mets just keep taking backward steps. Take this weekend, for example. New York was swept at home by the Rockies. And, if you need reminding, Colorado lost 119 games in 2025.

The offense was an embarrassing no-show yet again. There were yet more defensive mistakes. And, more worryingly, is the fact that there just appears to be no energy, no pulse, and no real heartbeat with this team.

If things carry on the way they are, then it probably won’t be too long until drastic changes are made. After all, it is getting late early and the season already looks to be in grave danger.

Thanks to the series loss to the Rockies, the Mets are now tied for the second-worst start in franchise history at 9-19. Things are that bad, and they could get a whole lot worse.

In the meantime, let’s go over everything from another tough weekend in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Apr 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean (26) pitches in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

3 UP

OFF DAY

After yet another awful weekend, maybe an off day on Monday is what this team needs. Okay, that’s probably a stretch, but we’re in short supply when it comes to positives. Very few things went right for the Mets over the weekend. And, with the season continuing to spiral, an opportunity for everyone to come together and try to come up with some much-needed answers with no game to worry about may not be a bad thing.

LONE BRIGHT SPOT

At least the Mets have Nolan McLean. With few other positives to cling to, at least Mets fans know they have a true stud in the rotation. McLean delivered again, allowing just two runs (one earned) with two walks and seven strikeouts over five innings. Sure, he isn’t getting a lot of run support. And McLean’s struggles the third time through the order are a little concerning. He owns a 10.40 ERA against an order a third time through. However, with that said, once McLean learns how to maintain his stuff, then he looks set to be unstoppable. He’s the only good thing about this Mets team right now.

SAVING GRACE

For everything that went wrong throughout the doubleheader on Sunday, at least the bullpen wasn’t a net negative. Six relievers combined to allow just one run over 10.1 innings in the two games combined. Carl Edwards Jr., who was called up over the weekend, did walk three in the final game of the series, but also didn’t allow a run and struck out five over 3.1 innings of work. Devin Williams tossed a perfect inning to silence the noise after a couple of rough outings. Luke Weaver looked good, as did Austin Warren. All in all, the bullpen was incredibly effective and did its job on a busy Sunday.

Apr 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets third baseman Bo Bichette (19) talks with catching coach J.P. Arencibia (68) following a 3-0 loss to the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

SOMETHING HAS GOT TO GIVE

This can’t go on any longer, can it? The Mets are a broken team and have now lost 15 of their last 17 games. Furthermore, they don’t look close to turning things around. Not only is this a fundamentally bad baseball team, but the players also seem incapable of adjusting on the fly. We’re seeing the same old mistakes and fatal flaws game in and game out. If that wasn’t bad enough, there just seems to be a real lack of effort and hustle, as well as no real pulse or heartbeat. This team isn’t doing anything with any real energy. With the season already on the brink, something seismic may have to happen in order to jolt the Mets out of their current malaise. Otherwise, it could be a very long and rough summer.

SAME OLD STORY 

How can an offense with the likes of Juan Soto and Bo Bichette be this bad? Against a team that lost over 110 games last year, the Mets lineup scored just one run over 18 innings on Sunday and were shut out for the fifth time this year. Furthermore, the offense managed just four runs in three games against Colorado, and has now put up a measly 38 runs in their last 16 games. If you want more damming evidence of just how bad the Mets are offensively, they’ve now scored one run or fewer 10 times. They’ve also scored two runs or fewer 14 times, and have lost on all 14 occasions. As a result, the 92 runs the Mets have scored this season are the fewest in all of baseball, as is the 3.28 runs per game average.

Stats aside, the eye test paints a more damming and concerning picture. The majority of the at-bats just look non-competitive, and the entire lineup seems to be stuck in a never-ending funk. Too many players are showing flashes only to then go ice-cold for prolonged stretches. There is no clear answer for why the lineup is struggling as badly as it is, and there appears to be no clear fix, either.

(NOT) GOING LONG

Freddy Peralta has been solid enough so far this year. In other words, he’s been good, not great. Or, rather, he’s started out great but then faded fast. As was the case on Friday night. Peralta pitched four scoreless innings but ran into trouble in the fifth and was soon pulled. Through his first six starts as a Met, Peralta has only pitched a full six innings once. He’s also pitching to a 3.90 ERA. It goes without saying that if the Mets are to salvage anything from this season, then they need Peralta to start offering both quality and quantity in his starts.

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The New York Mets may have a season-defining doubleheader this afternoon at Citi Field. If the Mets sweep the doubleheader, they’ll win their second consecutive series and will continue to chip away at the hole the dug themselves into after the 12 game losing streak. A split would mean dropping a series to the Rockies, squandering the momentum built after the Twins series. Being swept today by the Rockies would put the Mets into a tough spot.

It’s a consequential Sunday at Citi Field.

Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Mets Lineup

Game 1

1. Bo Bichette – 3B
2. Juan Soto – DH
3. Luis Robert Jr. – CF
4. Mark Vientos – 1B
5. Marcus Semien – 2B
6. Brett Baty – 3B
7. Tyrone Taylor – RF
8. Tommy Pham – RF
9. Luis Torrens – C

Starting Pitcher: Nolan McLean

The Mets will lead the afternoon off with Nolan McLean. McLean has made five starts totaling 30 1/3 innings this season with a 2.67 ERA, 2.39 FIP, 0.758 WHIP, and a 149 ERA+. McLean was perfect through five innings in his last start, with all of the damage coming against him late. He struck out a season high 10 batters and now has struck out at least eight batters in four of his five starts.

He now has a high 11.3 K/9 paired with a low 0.758 WHIP and 0.6 HR/9. This will be his first start against the Rockies and no one on the Rockies has faced McLean in a major league game.

Game 2

1. Bo Bichette – 3B
2. Juan Soto – DH
3. Francisco Alvarez – C
4. Brett Baty – 1B
5. MJ Melendez – LF
6. Marcus Semien – 2B
7. Carsom Benge – RF
8. Ronny Mauricio – SS
9. Tyrone Taylor – CF

Starting Pitcher: Kodai Senga

Kodai Senga returns to the Mets rotation for the nightcap. Senga has had a bizarre season so far allowing 18 runs (17 earned) over 17 1/3 innings from 23 hits and 10 walks while striking out 22. In his first two starts he allowed four runs over 11 2/3 innings while striking out 16 batters. Since then, he has allowed 14 runs over 5 2/3 innings while striking out six batters.

Senga faced the Rockies twice last season allowing three runs over 12 1/3 innings with 13 strikeouts. The Rockies have the following career numbers against Senga:

• Jordan Beck 0-5, BB, 2 K
• Willi Castro 0-1, BB, K
• Brenton Doyle 0-5, 3 K
• Tyler Freeman 1-1, 2B
• Hunter Goodman 1-6, 2 K
• Troy Johnston 0-2, K
• Edouard Julien 0-2, BB
• Jake McCarthy 1-3, 2 K
• Mickey Moniak 1-7, HR, 3 K
• Ezequiel Tovar 1-4, HR, BB

Rockies Lineup

Game 1:

1. Edouard Julien – 2B
2. Mickey Moniak – RF
3. TJ Rumfield – DH
4.  Troy Johnston – 1B
5. Kyle Karros – 3B
6. Brett Sullivan – C
7. Ezequiel Tovar – SS
8. Jake McCarthy – CF
9. Jordan Beck – LF

Starting Pitcher: Jose Quintana

Game 2:

1. Edouard Julien – 2B
2. Hunter Goodman – C
3. Mickey Moniak – LF
4. Tyler Freeman – RF
5. TJ Rumfield – 1B
6. Kyle Karros – 3B
7. Troy Johnston – DH
8. Ezequiel Tovar – SS
9. Brenton Doyle – CF

Starting Pitcher: Chase Dollander

The Mets will face an old friend this afternoon in the first game. Jose Quintana had a 3.70 ERA over 44 starts in seasons with the Mets from 2023-24. He pitched for the Brewers last season totaling 131 2/3 innings posting a 3.96 ERA, 4.81 FIP, 1.291 WHIP and a 105 ERA+.

This season he has made three starts, 13 innings, with a 6.23 ERA, 7.61 FIP, 1.846 WHIP and a 77 ERA+. Quintana is coming off of his worst start of the season where he allowed six runs (four earned) over five innings against the Dodgers from eight hits (two home runs). The Mets have the following career stats against Quintana:

• Brett Baty 0-2
• Bo Bichette 0-1, BB
• MJ Melendez 0-2, BB
• Tommy Pham 6-25, 2B, HR, 2 BB, 4 K
• Luis Robert Jr. 2-6, 2 K
• Marcus Semien 6-15, 3 2B, BB, 3 K
• Juan Soto 2-13, 2 BB, 3 K
• Tyrone Taylor 2-6, 2B, 3 K
• Luis Torrens 0-5, K
• Mark Vientos 1-2

As of writing the Rockies haven’t announced yet who is going to start the nightcap. Depending on how the first game goes, the plan is to use an opener with Chase Dollander to follow.

Dollander has pitched six games so far this season totaling 25 innings with a 2.88 ERA, 3.35 FIP, 1.000 WHIP, and a 166 ERA+. He has thrown at least four innings in five of his six games. In his last two outings he has allowed only one run over 11 1/3 innings while striking out 18 batters.

Dollander faced the Mets once last year and the Mets hit him hard scoring five runs from eight hits and a walk over three innings. The Mets have the following career numbers against him:

• Francisco Alvarez 1-2
• Brett Baty 0-2
• Ronny Mauricio 2-2
• Marcus Semien 0-2, K
• Juan Soto 2-2
• Tyrone Taylor 1-1, 2B, BB

Game Notes

For the first game recap, click here.

Prior to the first game of the doubleheader the New York Mets announced right-handed pitcher Austin Warren with be the 27th man.

Three Things To Watch For

1. Brett Baty. Baty has been on a tear recently, going 4-for-8 in his las two games with a double, a home runs, five RBIs, and three runs scored. Baty got off to a slow start this year hitting .190/.197/.270 over his first 18 games. In his last five games he is slashing .500/.571/.833 and has raised his season OBP from .197 to .263. He’s swinging a hot bat right now and the Mets are going to need him Sunday afternoon.
2. A well-rested bullpen. Christian Scott only gave the Mets 1 1/3 innings on Thursday with the bullpen having to pick up the rest of the game. Sean Manaea was able to finish Friday’s game and the Mets had a day off yesterday, so pretty much everyone is ready to go today. With another off-day tomorrow this is probably the best scenario for the Mets’ bullpen. Devin Williams is the player to watch today. He massively struggled earlier this week, failing to get an out after facing five batters. He came in to record the final two outs on Thursday and made things interesting, but ultimately survived.
3. Carson Benge. Each game it feels like we are getting closer to a Carson Benge breakout. His bat is in the 75th percentile for average exit velocity (91 mph), 64th in hard-hit rate (44.4%), and 72nd for preferred launch angle (37%). His softest contact on Friday night was 85.6 mph right at someone (lineout, .630 xBA). His other three batted balls in play were between 95.2 mph and 104.9 mph.

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After the losing streak hit 12 consecutive games, the Mets finally put an end to the downslide by taking two out of three from the Minnesota Twins.

It wasn’t always pretty or straightforward, and the series win did come with a cost with Francisco Lindor picking up a potentially serious injury. However, it was important that the Mets stopped the losing and began to take positive steps forward.

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

Photo By: Roberto Carlo

3 UP

ENDING THE STREAK

The nightmare officially came to an end on Wednesday night. After enduring a miserable 12-game losing streak, the Mets finally won a game of baseball. It wasn’t exactly a work of art, but the main thing was ending the slide and getting back in the win column. Then, this team managed to win again on Thursday for their first series win since the start of the month. The Mets still have a long way to go, but they took two positive steps forward against Minnesota.

COMING THROUGH

Even in snapping the losing streak on Wednesday, the Mets still struggled offensively. Therefore, it was a one-run game entering the final two innings, and Citi Field was on red alert. Enter Luke Weaver. The reliever worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth, before coming back out for the ninth. He was stellar, striking out Byron Buxton to get the job done and secure the win. When his team needed a stabilizing presence with the pressure on, Weaver delivered and played a huge role in picking up a crucial win.

SHOWING LIFE

As already mentioned, the offense wasn’t exactly great in the win on Wednesday night. However, it was a different story on Thursday. The lineup exploded for 10 hits and 10 runs. Brett Baty led the way with a momentum-shifting, game-changing three-run homer in the first to set the tone. He finished the game with two hits, two runs scored, and an RBI. Carson Benge had arguably his best game in a Mets uniform with a home run, two runs scored, and an RBI. And then the Bo Bichette show happened. After the bullpen allowed the Twins to make it a tied ballgame, Bichette came up with his biggest moment as a Met with a three-run double that effectively won the game.

It was without a doubt Bichette’s breakthrough moment, with the infielder finishing with three hits, two runs scored, and three RBIs. Hopefully, Thursday night’s explosion can act as the turning point for both Bichette and the offense in general.

Apr 23, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Christian Scott (45) delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

HAMMER BLOW

Even when things go right for the Mets, things still go wrong. While finally winning on Wednesday should have been the headline, Lindor’s injury overshadowed everything else. The shortstop was forced to leave the game with a left calf strain. He is now on the 10-Day IL and admitted that there is concern around the injury. When Lindor will be back remains to be seen, but it doesn’t look to be any time soon. Just look what happened to this team when Juan Soto missed three weeks. Lindor looks set to miss more than that, which is a shame considering that he was showing signs of turning things around. He recorded four RBIs in the first two games against Minnesota. Now, the Mets will need to navigate life without one of their best players for the foreseeable future.

UNWANTED START

As one of the moves made to try and stop the losing, David Peterson was bumped from his latest start with Christian Scott getting called up. However, things didn’t exactly go to plan for both the player and the team. Scott was all over the place, walking five batters, hitting one, and also giving up a balk. He threw 33 pitches in the first inning alone. Granted, Scott only gave up one run, but he also lasted just 1 1/3 innings. Now, it may be possible that Scott was just too amped up for his first MLB start since 2024. Either way, Scott hardly did his chances of fighting his way into the rotation any good.

CONFUSION IN THE AIR

When you are chasing a second-straight win after dropping 12 in a row, the last thing you want is chaos in the bullpen. Well, that’s exactly what the Mets got on Thursday night. Huascar Brazobán, who had given up a grand slam in the eighth, came back out in the ninth only to hear Devin Williams‘ closer music playing. Brazobán was on autopilot mode and forgot the plan that he would only come back out if it was a tied game. However, having crossed the foul line, Brazobán was told that he must face one batter before Williams would be allowed to enter the game. Brazobán did his bit, retiring Austin Martin before Williams came in for the final two outs.

The Mets eventually got the win but not until after Williams gave up one run and three hits. That came after Williams had imploded in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s loss. Tasked with getting just two outs, Williams still nearly blew another lead. It is clear that the confidence issues that were impacting him early with the Yankees are impacting him now. Going forward, I’m not sure the Mets can afford to have a long leash on Williams.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Snap Skid With Twins Series Win appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

In between, Williams was wild. He walked the first batter he faced on four pitches. He walked his second batter on six. Kody Clemens bunted to first baseman Mark Vientos, who tried to throw out the lead man at third, but pinch-runner James Outman beat the play and the bases were loaded with nobody out.

Luke Keaschall bounced a single over a drawn-in infield to give the Twins a 4-3 lead and then Williams walked Matt Wallner to bring in another run. Carlos Mendoza had seen enough. Williams faced five men, didn’t get an out and threw only nine of 21 pitches for strikes. His ERA jumped to an unsightly 9.95.

The 31-year-old closer didn’t give up a run in his first five outings. In his last three, he’s given up seven earned runs and recorded four outs. On Sunday in Chicago, Michael Conforto hit a game-tying double off of him in the ninth. Last week in Los Angeles, Dalton Rushing connected for a grand slam that gave the Dodgers a 7-1 lead in the eighth.

Photo Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Mendoza was asked to assess Williams’ struggles.

“Today, the command,” the manager said. “Obviously getting behind hitters, not able to execute and then once you start walking people, you’re in dangerous territory there. He’s got to come back in the zone and then when he’s getting behind, good hitters are going to make him pay. But I think overall today just the walks kind of hurt him there.”

The Mets (7-16) are now faced with trying to become the first team in MLB history to make the playoffs after losing a dozen games in a row. They have the worst record in baseball.

“It’s tough,” Williams told reporters. “I don’t know, I’ve never been a part of something like this. I think we just need to get the one win out of the way and I think everything else will take care of itself, but it’s obviously proving pretty difficult right now.

“Every day is a new day, right? We have a chance to win a game every day. Right now, everyone knows the situation and it’s just kind of stacking on top of each other.”

If you are looking for a bright spot, or a green shoot as Steve Cohen called it, Warren came into the bases-loaded, none-out jam and struck out the side. At least those who stuck around had something to cheer about.

The post Williams Wild, Walks Three in Latest Poor Showing appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Nolan McLean took the mound for the Mets against Simeon Woods Richardson for Minnesota.

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

After both teams went down quietly in the first two innings, Francisco Lindor hit a three-run home run in the third that gave the Mets a 3-0 lead early, driving in Carson Benge and Marcus Semien, who each reached safely earlier in the inning.

After five perfect innings on the mound, the Twins finally got to McLean and answered back in the sixth on a Byron Buxton two-run home run that drove in Matt Wallner and made it a 3-2 game.

They later tied it up in the seventh after Kody Clemens doubled and Luke Keaschall drove him in on an RBI single that knocked McLean out of the game.

Though his outing didn’t end how he wanted it to, McLean pitched a very solid 6 2/3 innings. He gave up just three earned runs on five hits, one home run, and struck out 10. His only mistakes were the sixth-inning home run to Buxton and the RBI single in the seventh. Outside of that, McLean did not walk any batters and looked sharp.

After Huascar Brazoban did his job to keep the Mets in it after McLean’s outing, the main story of the game didn’t come until the ninth when Devin Williams couldn’t even record an out as things imploded on the mound for him for a third straight game. He blew the save and cost the Mets to drop their 12-straight matchup, the second in a row directly tied back to his performance.

Williams walked two in a row and gave up a sac bunt to load the bases. He then gave up an RBI single to Keaschall before walking a third batter that allowed Minnesota to extend their late lead to 5-3 and knock the Mets’ closer out of the game.

Austin Warren was tasked with getting the Mets out of the inning before more damage was done, and he answered the call. With bases loaded, Warren struck out the side to keep it a 5-3 game.

But after Warren was the superhero of the ninth, the Mets went down in order in the bottom half of the ninth as their bats stayed silent to drop game one to the twins 5-3 after they came back from behind.

This marks the twelfth straight loss for New York for the first time since 2022.

Player of the Game

Tuesday’s player of the game was McLean, who struck out 10. But the rest of the team wouldn’t get an award until they win.

On Deck

The Mets and Twins continue their series on Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. at Citi Field. Clay Holmes taking the mound for the Mets. They will also finally get Juan Soto back in the lineup. No starter is announced yet for the Twins.

The post Mets Play Defeated, Lose 12th in a Row appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

After being swept by the Cubs in Chicago, the Mets have now lost 11 consecutive games and are 7-15 on the season. That’s tied for the worst record in all of baseball.

Furthermore, the Mets rank last in a number of statistical categories, including the most important one: runs. They also look incompetent in almost every single department.

With no signs of hope that a turnaround may be on the horizon, it remains to be seen just how much worse things could get. And, if they do, what changes, if any, may be in the offing.

For now, though, let’s recap everything from a third straight series sweep in this week’s 3 Up, 3 Down…

Matt Marton-Imagn Images

3 UP

SPARK PLUG

MJ Melendez hasn’t stopped hitting since getting called up from Triple-A. He’s the only member of the Mets who is hitting right now. He recorded a pair of hits in the series opener before hitting a home run in the finale on Sunday. Melendez has looked good at the plate so far, and he’s proving that he can be a contributing piece for this ballclub.

OPENING UP

The Mets went with an opener for Sunday’s game, with Tobias Myers providing some much-needed stability. The righty tossed two scoreless innings, striking out two while allowing just one hit and one walk. Given what happened earlier in the series on the pitching side, Myers not putting his team in an early hole should be considered a big positive.

RIGHTING THE SHIP

Moved out of the rotation on Sunday, having struggled to start the season, few could have blamed David Peterson for being ticked. Well, if he was, he didn’t show it. The lefty pitched out of the bullpen in relief, giving the Mets 3.2 scoreless innings of relief in the finale. It was a much-needed outing for Peterson, given his recent struggles. Hopefully, he can use it as a springboard to pitch in the rotation effectively.

Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

ALL-TIME LOW

Forget rock bottom, the Mets are digging beneath it right now. They’ve lost 11 in a row, which is tied for the seventh-longest losing streak in franchise history. Historically, not many teams have been this bad and still made the postseason. Forget all the historical context, though. The most damming aspect about this historical streak is just how fundamentally bad this team looks from top to bottom. Hitters aren’t performing to the back of their baseball cards. The starting pitching has been a mess outside of the top two arms. We’re seeing mental mistakes and routine errors every single day. We’re still in April, but it is hard to see how the Mets are going to turn this around.

EMBARRASSING 

There isn’t much left to say about how bad this offense is. And nothing seems to be changing. The approach at the plate is the same, despite the lack of success and results. The Mets aren’t generating enough baserunners, and they are a non-threat on the basepaths when they do. There is no power. There is no making things happen. And the entire lineup seems incapable of adjusting on the fly. Consequently, the offense was a no-show again in Chicago, scoring a total of seven runs. The lineup also went a combined 5-for-26 with RISP. Furthermore, the Mets have now scored two runs or less in nine of their last 11 games. As a result, they rank second-worst in runs scored (72) in baseball, while owning the second-worst OBP (.288), SLG (.336), and OPS (.624).

And, while the pending return of Juan Soto will help, relying on one player to solve everything will only mean that this team really is in a whole world of trouble.

SALT IN THE WOUNDS

When you are on the kind of losing streak the Mets are, everything that can possibly go wrong will go wrong. We saw that on Sunday. Within touching distance of snapping a 10-game losing streak, Devin Williams allowed a game-tying RBI double in the ninth. The fact that it came off the bat of former Met Michael Conforto made it even worse. Then, in extra innings, Craig Kimbrel allowed the ghost runner to score to cap off what was yet another miserable weekend. That came after Brooks Raley gave up his first home run since 2023 to change the entire complexion of Saturday’s game. When it rains, it pours for the Mets right now.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets Swept By Cubs As Woes Continue appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

The 11th loss in a row might have been the most frustrating. The Mets led 1-0 in the ninth at Wrigley Field when Michael Conforto tied the game with a pinch-hit double off Devin Williams. Nico Hoerner won the game with a walk-off sacrifice fly off Craig Kimbrel in the 10th.

Lost because of the end result was that the move to start Tobias Myers and piggyback David Peterson worked. The pair combined for 5 2/3 scoreless innings. But the only offense was an MJ Melendez home run.

This is the longest Mets losing streak in 22 years. SNY studio analyst Todd Zeile, who was on the 2004 team, noted, however, that this team had high preseason expectations. The 2004 Mets went 71-91. At 7-15, the Mets are tied with the Royals for the worst record in baseball.

The Mets are off Monday. A nine-game homestand starts Tuesday with Nolan McLean (1-1, 2.28 ERA) facing Twins RHP Mick Abel (1-2, 3.98 ERA). Mendoza reiterated to reporters Sunday that Juan Soto is expected to return during the homestand, though he didn’t specify when.

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

Francisco Lindor and Williams were asked for thoughts on Mendoza after the game and both gave him a vote of confidence.

“He’s done a fantastic job,” Lindor told reporters. “This is not on him. He has made sure everybody here is prepared. Every coach here is prepared. We have the information. It comes down on us. Mendy’s our guy. He’s our leader. He’s in control and he’s done a tremendous job. We just haven’t executed. It would be unfair to put everything on him because at the end of the day, he has gotten the ship in the right direction. We just have to, the people are paddling. We’ve got to paddle and execute.”

Said Williams: “It’s absolutely on us. He doesn’t swing a bat and he doesn’t throw a baseball. We’ve been in a lot of these games. It’s been close. Him or somebody else isn’t going to just magically flip a switch and we’re going to get it done. He’s putting guys in good positions. We’re not performing.”

Latest MLB News

The Dodgers placed Freddie Freeman on the paternity list and called up 1B-OF Ryan Ward from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

The Phillies placed closer Jhoan Duran on the 15-day injured list with a strained left oblique.

Latest on MMO

Johnluke Chaparro has more on the loss to the Cubs.

James Villani puts the losing streak in historical team context. The franchise record is 17 losses in a row in 1962.

I wrote up a Mets minors recap of Saturday’s games. Ryan Clifford homered twice.

On This Date in Mets History

2020: Variety breaks the news that power couple Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez were trying to team up with JPMorgan Chase to buy the Mets.

2006: Julio Franco, 47 years and 240 days old, becomes the oldest player in MLB history to homer in a 7-2 victory over the Padres. The oldest player to homer before Franco was Philadelphia Athletics pitcher Jack Quinn, who hit one out at age 46 in 1930. In the same game, Kazuo Matsui hits an inside-the-park homer, becoming the first player since Ken Griffey Jr. (1997-1999) to homer in his first at-bat of the season three years in a row.

1967: Tom Seaver earns the first of his 311 wins. He strikes out five Cubs over 7 1/3 innings in front of 5,379 at Shea Stadium. Tommy Davis homers.

Born on This Date: Sean Green (1979), Jason Roach (1976), Masato Yoshii (1965).

The post Morning Briefing: Lindor, Williams Stand Up for Mendoza appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

While still early, the last couple of weeks have been ugly, and the struggles continued with the Mets being swept by the Dodgers in LA. Over the course of the three games, New York was outscored 14-3. In all, the offense has managed a measly three runs over the last 38 innings.

Furthermore, mental errors continue to plague this team. The Mets are playing fundamentally bad baseball every single night. Players are making inexcusable, costly mistakes on a daily basis. It is just hard to watch.

So, let’s try to find a few positives while recapping all the negatives in the latest edition of 3 Up, 3 Down…

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

3 UP

TIMELY BOOST

While not directly related to the Dodgers series, the Mets did get some positive news in LA. Juan Soto, out with a right calf strain, resumed running this week. Furthermore, he took part in some live at-bats at Citi Field on Wednesday. As a result, the superstar hitter could return in time for the Mets’ next homestand. Given how lifeless this offense has been, Soto’s return can’t come quick enough.

ADDING A SPARK

Due to injuries, MJ Melendez was recalled from Triple-A and made his Mets debut on Wednesday. It was a debut to remember. The outfielder hit two doubles and finished with an RBI. With the rest of the lineup going a combined 3-for-28 with 12 strikeouts, Melendez at least tried to provide a much-needed spark. While it didn’t amount to anything, Melendez did show that he could be a contributor for the Mets at the Major League level.

THE NOLAN SHOW 

Nolan McLean is legitimate. Like, he really is the real deal. The rookie entered this season with high expectations, and he’s quickly justifying all of the hype. McLean was lights out in his latest start, allowing just one run on two hits with eight strikeouts over seven stellar innings. He gave his team every single opportunity to win. It was just a shame his offense didn’t get the memo. Nevertheless, McLean is continuing to show why many feel he could be the future face of this franchise. He flashed filthy stuff against LA while impressing with both his arsenal and his command. When McLean is operating at the peak of his powers, as he was on Tuesday, he’s going to be hard to beat no matter the quality of the opposing lineup.

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

3 DOWN

NO PULSE

There are few words remaining to accurately describe just how bad the offense is at the moment. Even without Juan Soto, there are no excuses for this lineup being this bad. Yet, 19 games in, and we’re approaching panic time with just how lifeless the entire offense is. Across the three games in LA, the Mets scored just three runs while being held to only 12 hits. Furthermore, they have managed just three runs total over the last 38 innings. If that wasn’t bad enough, the at-bats look lifeless and there appear to be no tangible signs of a turnaround. There is a lot of swing-and-miss with this team, not to mention a real lack of an offensive identity. Unless things turn around soon offensively, then the Mets could be in a lot of trouble.

AN UGLY MESS

“We’re not playing good baseball right now.” And manager Carlos Mendoza wins the most captain obvious statement of the entire year. Yes, the Mets aren’t playing good baseball right now. They are playing incredibly ugly baseball. They are whiffing on the very basic fundamentals of the game. And they are making sloppy errors that you would struggle to find in Little League. It is just a hot mess. Francisco Lindor failed to charge down a groundball that led to LA hitting a grand slam late in the series finale.

Francisco Alvarez was thrown out at second after misreading a play in the same game. Devin Williams struggled out of the bullpen on Wednesday. David Peterson threw yet another clunker in his latest start. All in all, the Mets aren’t helping themselves right now due to an inability to get even the basic fundamentals of the game right.

PILING ON

Everything tends to go wrong during the course of a losing streak. As so proved during the three-game stretch in LA. First, the Mets lost Jared Young for anywhere between 6-8 weeks with a left meniscus tear. Now, while not a major piece, Young has provided solid depth this year with a .391 on-base percentage. Perhaps more consequential was the news that a stint on the IL still hasn’t been ruled out for Jorge Polanco. The veteran was out of the lineup again on Thursday as he continues to deal with Achilles bursitis. Not only has Polanco been unable to log many reps at first base, but he’s also not produced offensively. He’s hitting just .179/.246/.286/.532 with one home run. There might be some concern that this lingering injury could lead to diminished production for the entire year.

The post 3 Up, 3 Down: Mets’ Woes Continue With LA Sweep appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

“They are used to pitching in high-leverage situations,” Carlos Mendoza said after the 4-3 victory over Arizona. “That’s what we brought them in for. To lock games down. To keep games in there for us. And today was a perfect example. They went through some good hitters and Devin continued to execute pitches there and then for Weave in extra innings with the ghost runner to just keeping the game there. They’re used to it. They are an important part for this team and they’re going to continue to get big outs for us.”

Williams worked around two singles in the ninth, striking out Corbin Carroll with a runner on first and Adrian Del Castillo with two on to end the inning. Weaver worked a 1-2-3 inning, the ghost runner never advancing from second base. He struck out Tim Tawa swinging on a 93 mph fastball to end the frame after falling behind in the count 3-0.

Photo Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Weaver always seems to have a joke on the tip of his tongue. He told reporters his biggest challenge on a chilly day at Citi Field was “trying to limit the nose blows.”

“I felt like the first one I was putting on my winter ice skates,” he said. “Make sure the hammy didn’t blow out there, thankfully we’re good. But yeah, things were firmed up on the mound from a pitching aspect. And then the winds kinda blowing in pretty hard, it’s in your face. I don’t know, I’m in a box most of the game, so the heat is on and it feels pretty good until you get out in the climate.

“So you’re really hoping to be efficient. But at the end of the day, it’s early in the season, you know you’re going to get this every year, and it’s gonna get really hot, and then we’re gonna complain about that too, so, and then we’ll get to September, and we’ll be right back where we started. So just happy to be here.”

The bullpen has been a strength for the Mets (7-4) through 11 games. It is 3-2 with a 1.45 ERA (second in MLB to the Braves) and 1.11 WHIP (fifth) over 43 1/3 innings (12th).

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