Mets in free fall after losing 10th straight game

CHICAGO — The Mets must defy the chances in the event that they plan on making the postseason this yr after dropping their 10th consecutive game Saturday, a 4-2 losses to the Cubs.

Only three groups in the divisional period (since 1969) have made the postseason after a double-digit losing streak, together with final yr’s Cleveland Guardians.

“No one is going to feel sorry for us,” Mets supervisor Carlos Mendoza mentioned after the newest defeat. “We have to keep going. We haven’t been playing good baseball. We have 5½ months ahead. We have the opportunity to write our own story.”

The Mets say they cannot level to any single factor that has led them to their longest April losing streak in franchise historical past. They definitely aren’t hitting sufficient, scoring simply 18 runs in the course of the streak, the fewest for them over 10 video games since June 3-5, 2018.

They are additionally making unhealthy pitches, just like the one reliever Brooks Raley made to pinch hitter Carson Kelly in the sixth inning Saturday. Kelly deposited Raley’s first-pitch cutter into the left-field bleachers for a three-run homer to interrupt a 1-1 tie. The Cubs cruised to victory from there.

“We haven’t been able to put together a complete game,” Mendoza mentioned. “It’s either the offense or starting pitching, like not doing [that] pitch, not making a play, not getting a big hit. Just having a hard time playing a complete game right now.”

Mendoza’s job is seemingly secure after president of baseball operations David Stearns mentioned Friday that he thought his third-year supervisor was doing a great job and is placing gamers in a place to succeed. Of course, issues can change if the losses proceed to pile up for the Mets, who missed the postseason final yr after a disastrous second half.

The staff is making an attempt to not deal with the unfavourable this early in the season.

“It’s a big boy league,” infielder Marcus Semien he mentioned. “There is no time to dwell on tonight. Tomorrow is a new day. … It’s as simple as showing up tomorrow with a good attitude. Hopefully other guys see a smile on my face when I show up.”

Semien and Mendoza provided few options to the staff’s plight, although getting All-Star Juan Soto again from a calf harm ought to assist. But that will not occur for a number of extra days. With designated hitter Jorge Polanco (wrist) on the shelf as nicely, the Mets will want others to step up.

A late winter overhaul by Stearns led to a constructive feeling concerning the staff coming into this season. But these additions, like Saturday’s starter Freddy Peraltahave not produced sufficient. third baseman Mark Winds he did hit a protracted dwelling run in the loss, however New York’s offense was principally quiet the remainder of the day.

Mendoza was requested how he thought Mets followers had been feeling proper now.

“They have the right to be pissed and frustrated,” he mentioned. “They care. Just like we do. … I understand how they’re feeling. I’d be pissed too, if I was a fan. I’m pissed. They’re pissed.”

The 10-game losing streak is the longest in April since 2023 Chicago White Sox. The Mets are seven video games behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League East, an unusually massive deficit for this time of yr.

“It’s frustrating to lose baseball games, and when you lose this many in a row, it compounds,” Semien mentioned. “The game does not owe you any wins. You have to go out and get it.”

The Mets rank in the underside half of the league in most offensive and pitching classes, together with dwelling runs. They have hit simply 15 this season, solely forward of the San Francisco Giants for fewest in the National League. Their beginning pitching is not a lot better, rating twenty first in ERA.

The staff is hoping Sunday will convey totally different outcomes.

“We have to do something to get in the W column,” Semien mentioned. “No one is showing up thinking about how it’s going to happen again. We’re thinking about how we’re going to win.”

Mendoza added: “We’re putting ourselves in a hole right now. There is only one way to [get out of] Item. Come back tomorrow, ready to go.”

ESPN Research contributed to this report.