2026 MLB Season: Struggles for Mets and Phillies
As the 2026 Major League Baseball season kicks off, it’s hard to believe that most teams have only played about 17% of their 162-game schedule. Yet, the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies, both thought to be contenders for the World Series, are already buried in a tough situation.
This year, the Mets have shelled out a staggering $370 million on player salaries, with luxury tax penalties soaring above $100 million. The Phillies, not far behind, have spent around $290 million, plus their own luxury tax issues. It’s a significant amount, especially when you think about how this raises discussions regarding the need for a salary cap before the 2027 season.
As April winds down, both teams find their playoff aspirations hanging by a thread, with hopes of winning the National League East evaporating rapidly.
Last weekend promised a resurgence for the Mets and Phillies, with key players returning from injuries. Instead, things took a turn for the worse.
Rockies’ Success vs. Struggles of Mets and Phillies
Juan Soto, recently back from a calf injury for the Mets, was expected to boost the team’s offense. Unfortunately, Francisco Lindor’s subsequent injury only added to the team’s woes, causing their batting to dip further.
In a doubleheader against the struggling Colorado Rockies, the Mets managed to clinch a solitary win, 6-1, prompting the Rockies to joke about proposing something goofy to the Empire State Building. The Rockies themselves have a much lower payroll, estimated at $122 million, with a beleaguered Kris Bryant taking up a chunk of that.
To date, the Mets have slumped to a batting average of just .226/.288/.337, making them 21% less effective than the league average and scoring only 92 runs — the least in MLB. Their run differential sits at a disappointing -29.
Things are equally dismal for the Phillies, sitting with a payroll of around $300 million. They recently brought back Zach Wheeler from injury, which initially halted a horrendous 10-game losing streak. But they quickly fell back into the losing mindset, losing 6-2 against Chris Sale and now standing at 3-15 over their last 18 outings. With an ERA of 5.13 and a batting average that’s been lackluster at .219/.294/.362, they seem to really be struggling.
Both teams have registered 9 wins against 19 losses, and their chances look grim with a significant point difference of -50.
It’s early in the season, of course—many fans will argue that—but you can lose in these months just as easily as you can win. Just weeks ago, these teams had over an 85% chance of postseason success, but now those odds have plummeted to the low 30s.
With nearly $700 million spent on player salaries, countless funds in luxury taxes, and star players like Juan Soto and Bryce Harper, it’s bewildering to think both franchises might miss out on October baseball while teams with smaller budgets, like the Pirates and Diamondbacks, could thrive.
A good chunk of this underperformance can be attributed to bad luck. The Phillies, for instance, have a respectable batting average on paper, yet their pitching hasn’t come through as expected. With the Braves leading by 10.5 games, the division race feels all but settled. Atlanta holds an 84% chance of finishing on top, while the Mets and Phillies are hovering around a grim 7%. It really shows how “buying” a championship isn’t as straightforward as some fans believe. A few weeks of bad luck or injuries can drastically alter a team’s trajectory. And that seems to be the case here.
