Thoughts on why the Mets offense is struggling so badly
The Mets have lost eight in a row and need to stop the bleeding today in Chicago
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
The Mets were off on Thursday - they open a three-game series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field today
The Mets might not be as bad as they are playing right now, but cracks are starting to show in how this roster was constructed during the offseason (The Athletic)
For better or worse this is David Stearns’s team and the gamble he took by rebuilding the team in one offseason (NY Post)
Even though it is still April, there are reasons to worry about the 2026 Mets (Newsday)
Despite how things look right now, history tells us that there is plenty of time for the Mets to turn it around (SNY)
The team unveiled its new $10 million development center in the Dominican Republic (MLB.com)
Roster Moves 📰
LHP Richard Lovelady traded to the Washington Nationals in exchange for cash considerations
The Just Mets Podcast 🎙️
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Down on the Farm 🌾
CF A.J. Ewing (No. 3 prospect, Double-A): 1-for-3, 2B, SB, BB, K
SS Antonio Jimenez (No. 16 prospect, High-A): 2-for-5, 2 R, RBI, HR, K
LHP A.J. Minter (High-A): 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
BOX SCORES
Single-A STL | High-A BRK | Double-A BRK | Triple-A SYR (PPD)
Today’s Game 🗓
Match-up: Mets (7-12) vs. Cubs (9-9)
Where: Wrigley Field — Chicago, IL
Starters: RHP Kodai Senga (0-2, 7.07 ERA) vs. RHP Edward Cabrera (1-0, 1.62 ERA)
When: 2:20 PM EDT
Where to Watch: WPIX
Why is the Mets offense struggling this badly so far this season? ✍️
It’s April 2026, and it is the return of Panic Citi. The Mets have lost eight in a row, and they are batting just .175 over those eight games and have scored just 12 runs. It’s as ugly as ugly can get, and after targeting low-strikeout guys in the offseason, their approach has completely gone out the window. According to SNY’s Chelsea Janes, they have swung at 50% of pitches thrown their way, and 37% of their swings came at pitches outside the zone.
With the losses mounting, following last year’s painful collapse and the offseason overhaul, frustration is mounting in the fanbase. Carlos Mendoza and David Stearns are the subject of the fans’ ire so far, with them getting the blame for the slow start. In postgame press conferences, both the players and the manager seem to be at a loss as to why things have been such a collective struggle.
Obviously, they know technically why they’re not performing at the plate. They know what the stats are, they know what the metrics are. They know that players are doing things they don’t normally do, which is a cause and effect here.
It’s probably no coincidence that this slump has occurred the same time Juan Soto went on the IL with a calf strain. He was officially placed on the injured list on April 7, which is also the last time the team has won a game. Before his injury, he got off to a hot start and was hitting .355 on his young season. Without his elite bat in the lineup, someone else has needed to step up, and so far, nobody has. The good news is that Soto’s return is on the horizon, so hopefully, this team can figure itself out offensively and they can put this losing streak behind them.
The problem is, this can’t be a one-man show here. The offense can’t be dependent on one player. That is not how the offense was designed, and it’s not how any offense in the sport can function. Yes, there’s no replacing Soto no matter what, but a 2-3 week absence from Soto should be survivable.
Again, they’re 0-8 since he went on the injured list and 3-8 since he got hurt.
In addition, while no player will use it as an excuse, the travel schedule has been awful to start the season. It’s not even a month in, and they have already had two West Coast trips, and both trips had no off day in between for travel. Thankfully, all the trips to the West will be over by the beginning of June when they play the Padres. If they can figure out a way to survive the first half of the season, the travel at least will be less of a burden later on in the season.
In other words, they have underperformed, but other factors outside their control might be contributing to their struggles.
Look - every team goes through one of these ruts. Sometimes two or three. Look at the Dodgers of 2025, who had a long losing streak of their own and multiple 7-10 stretches. It happens. That’s not to say the Mets are the Dodgers by any means - they have a long, long way to go before we can have that conversation, despite what they might have you believe at times. But while these games unquestionably count, this is survivable if they stop this now.
And, outside of the Dodgers and now the Padres, no other team looks to be a powerhouse in the National League. They have time to turn it around, especially in their division. They have yet to play any team in the NL East, so they have plenty of time to catch up to the teams ahead of them.
They just need to stop the bleeding, starting with this upcoming series against the Cubs.
The question is, will they?
Around the League 🚩
Angels OF Mike Trout hit his fifth home run of the series against the Yankees which is a new record for a visiting player against the Bronx Bombers (MLB.com)
Padres closer Mason Miller finished off San Diego’s 8th win in a row, and his own scoreless streak is up to 30.2 consecutive innings (MLB.com)
Guardians LHP Parker Messick took a no-hitter into the ninth inning in Cleveland’s 4-2 win over the Orioles (MLB.com)
There was a benches-clearing incident after the final out of Giants and Reds series when San Francisco reliever Erik Miller and Reds 3B Sal Stewart got into it after the game was over (MLB.com)
Been a Mets fan for over 50 years and it is so frustrating. David Sterns makes too many bad roster decisions. So much dead money. Instead of having such a run prevention mentality. Which he didn't really accomplish. It was just a cover to get rid of Alonso and Nimmo. Get ball players who "know how to play with passion that really care" who are not overpriced veterans. There were solid ball players out there that could have filled our holes at first base and left field for a year or so until our youngsters were ready. There are so many teams out there that are fielding young, hungry, solid ball players with passion and are having success. Not as much success as the Dodgers at this point, but give their fans entertainment, a reason for hope and fun to watch and follow. David Sterns needs to re-think about the ball players he goes after. I have cancer and the Mets are playing as bad as I feel. I was hoping they could give me some joy this year.
The front office changed players, coaches, so does the obvious come next?