The New York Mets endured a difficult weekend, dropping consecutive games to their division rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies, with final scores of 15-3 and 6-2. These setbacks pushed the team’s record down to 34-43, underscoring the challenges of what has become another underwhelming season for the club.
Following Sunday’s four-run loss, standout outfielder Juan Soto addressed the media and tried to maintain a level-headed perspective on the team’s current standing in last place during the early part of summer.
“There isn’t any worry right now,” Soto said. “We’re just playing baseball. [We’ve] just got to [start] playing better and try to execute.”
Despite Soto’s calm outlook, there are few indications that the Mets will suddenly find consistent success on the field. This holds true even with the potential return of shortstop Francisco Lindor to the lineup this week after missing time since April 22 due to a calf injury. The team’s batting approach has frequently struggled to deliver crucial hits in key moments, a point manager Carlos Mendoza has highlighted in recent comments.
Since closing out April with a promising 7-4 mark, the Mets have largely been unable to generate sustained offensive production. This lack of timely hitting has contributed heavily to their slide in the standings.
Beyond the batting woes, the Mets face significant issues on the pitching side as well. Data from Tim Britton of The Athletic reveals that only the Colorado Rockies have surrendered more runs during the initial three innings of games this year, with New York posting a troubling 5.49 ERA in those early frames.
Soto touched on this early-game vulnerability after Sunday’s contest.
“It’s really tough to give up the lead right away,” Soto said about the Mets always having to try to rally from behind during games. “We’ve got to play better baseball.”
On Sunday, left-hander David Peterson returned to the mound for his first start since May 26. He struggled immediately, allowing five runs—four of them earned—across the opening two innings, which dropped his personal record to 3-6 for the season.
Peterson remained measured when discussing the team’s broader situation.
“I wouldn’t say that there’s a concern because I don’t think that’s where our focus should be; I think our focus should be on continuing to come to the ballpark with a good attitude and continuing to put good work in,” Peterson said. “We obviously have not put ourselves in a situation that we want to be in, but it’s not for a lack of effort, and it’s not for a lack of commitment.”
Looking ahead, the Mets will begin a four-game homestand against the Chicago Cubs, who currently sit at 40-37, starting Monday night. Given the team’s ongoing struggles, questions are beginning to surface about how much longer the losses can continue before owner Steve Cohen considers shifting strategies. With the August 3 trade deadline approaching, speculation is growing over whether the front office might opt to sell off pieces rather than push for a late-season turnaround.
For now, the Mets must focus on steadying their performance both at the plate and on the mound if they hope to reverse their fortunes in what remains a long campaign.
