UPDATE: The New York Mets have plunged into a wild-card tie with the Cincinnati Reds after suffering a devastating 3-2 loss to the last-place Washington Nationals at Citi Field on Sunday. This defeat marks a significant turning point with only a week remaining in the MLB regular season, as the Mets’ playoff aspirations hang by a thread.
The Mets, who held a playoff position for nearly six months, now find themselves in a precarious situation. Following a weekend of dismal performances, including Saturday’s loss in extra innings, they have lost 11 of their last 15 games. “It’s the way it’s gone,” said Mets left fielder Brandon Nimmo. “We’ve been watching it happen right in front of us.”
In a crushing turn of events, the Mets’ record now stands at 80-76, tied with the Reds, who clinched a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs earlier in the day. The Reds hold the tiebreaker by winning the season series, putting the Mets in a must-win situation.
The Mets have just six games left, starting Tuesday with a critical road trip against the Cubs followed by a series against the Miami Marlins. Meanwhile, the Reds will face the Pittsburgh Pirates for three games before concluding their schedule against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Arizona Diamondbacks are also looming close behind, just one game back in the standings.
“We just gotta win,” stated Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. “Winning solves everything at this point. We have to solve our issues between the lines.” The Mets were once sitting pretty with a record of 45-24 through June 12, boasting the best record in the majors. However, the team has since collapsed, going 35-52 over the last three months, the fourth-worst record in the league.
Amid the pressure, the Mets’ last game included multiple errors and missed opportunities. Early in the game, Juan Soto was picked off, and Francisco Lindor committed a throwing error that allowed the Nationals to score first. Lindor took full responsibility, saying, “If we want to be where we want to be, those things can’t happen.”
The Mets’ pitching, featuring a piggyback strategy with Sean Manaea and Clay Holmes, held the Nationals to only three runs, but it wasn’t enough. Their performance paled in comparison to the Nationals’ pitchers, who entered with the highest ERAs in the majors. The game was ultimately decided by two incredible catches from Nationals center fielder Jacob Young, who thwarted crucial hits from the Mets.
As the Mets head into the final stretch, they face not only the challenge of winning games but also the psychological toll of their recent slump. Their playoff probability has plummeted to 50.1% according to FanGraphs, down from 96.2% just a few weeks ago. “I can’t put my finger quite on it other than we just haven’t been able to put it together as a team,” Nimmo remarked.
With the postseason looming, every game counts. The Mets must regroup quickly, as fans and analysts alike are watching closely to see if they can reverse their fortunes in this critical moment of the season.
