The New York Mets hit a low point on Tuesday, marking their 12th consecutive loss, their worst streak since 2002.
They fell 5-3 to the Minnesota Twins, tying their previous record for consecutive losses. Historically, no MLB team has reached the playoffs after such a losing stretch, and it seems the Mets are effectively out of playoff contention this year.
“After Francisco Lindor hit a three-run homer in the third, it was their first lead of three runs in more than two weeks.” The starting pitcher, Nolan McLean, was perfect for the first five innings, yet they still ended up losing.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza succinctly described the situation as “terrible.”
“It sucks,” Mendoza added. “It’s especially frustrating considering how well the game was going.”
“I’ve never experienced anything like this,” said Devon Williams.
“Honestly, I think just one win could change everything. I guess it’s just harder than it looks right now,” he remarked.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Mets find themselves “tied for the worst record in MLB.”
“They lost 12 straight after squandering a three-run lead and didn’t score until the last five innings. They have 7 wins and 16 losses, which ties them for the worst record,” he mentioned.
Some superstitious Mets fans speculate that the team’s troubles stem from the mascot, Mr. and Mrs. Mets, hugging the city’s socialist mayor, Zoran Mamdani.
The current losing streak actually began on April 7, a couple of days prior to Mamdani’s visit. Nevertheless, it’s been a tough run since Mamdani’s marriage to the Met couple, with the team losing 11 out of 12 games since then.
As noted by sources, some of the Mets’ worst losing stretches happened in their early years as a franchise. Similar to many expansion teams, they often found themselves struggling.
Nevertheless, this streak contradicts the preseason optimism that the team might compete for a championship. Though it’s still April and there’s time to turn things around, historically no team has made the playoffs after a streak of 12 losses or more.
The immediate hope lies with Juan Soto, who is returning from a calf injury. He’ll provide a much-needed boost for New York’s offense starting in the next game against the Twins. Yet, it’s clear that the Mets’ issues run deeper than what one star player can solve.
