Mets in Trouble: Lose Wild Card to Reds, Playoffs at Risk

Mets Out of Playoff Zone After Loss to Nationals

After nearly six months in the fight for a playoff spot in the National League, the New York Mets have fallen. A loss to the Washington Nationals, the team with the worst record in the league, has been the last straw, ending a three-month streak of underperformance. The 3-2 loss at Citi Field, marked by impressive defensive plays by Nationals center fielder Jacob Young, and combined with the Cincinnati Reds’ victory over the Chicago Cubs, knocked the Mets out of contention for the first time since April 5th.

That’s the way it’s gone. I can believe it because I’ve seen it. We’ve been watching it happen right in front of us.

Brandon Nimmo, Mets left fielder

With six games remaining and a record similar to the Reds, the latter maintain the tiebreaker advantage. The Mets, with 11 losses in their last 15 games, will face the Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins on the road, starting Tuesday. The Arizona Diamondbacks are also lurking, just one game away from the Reds and Mets in the fight for the third National League Wild Card spot. The Diamondbacks have the tiebreaker over the Mets, but not over the Reds.

We just have to win. It’s simple. Winning solves everything right now. We have to do it. That’s it. We have to solve our problems between the lines. That’s the simple fact.

Pete Alonso, Mets first baseman

The Mets, who led the majors with a 45-24 record through June 12, seemed headed for the playoffs. However, the team has performed far below expectations, with a 35-52 record since June 13, one of the worst in the league during that period. The Mets’ chances of reaching the postseason stand at 50.1%, according to FanGraphs, a significant drop from the 96.2% they had on June 12.

I can’t pinpoint it exactly, other than we haven’t been able to gel as a team for an extended period of time.

Brandon Nimmo

After an encouraging victory against the San Diego Padres, the Mets began Friday’s series with an outstanding offense. But they lost on Saturday and made early mistakes on Sunday, which cost them dearly.

In the first inning, Juan Soto was put out at first base. In the second, Francisco Lindor committed an error that allowed the first run to score. In the third, Cedric Mullins didn’t reach second base on a line drive, which could have cost the Mets a run.

In the mound, the Mets used Sean Manaea and Clay Holmes for the second time in the last week, after both struggled to pitch deep into games in the second half. The duo combined to allow only three runs in six innings, with Nasim Nunez hitting a two-run home run. In the end, the Mets’ duo, costing $38 million, was surpassed by the Nationals’ duo, costing $1.4 million, Jake Irvin and Mitchell Parker. The Nationals had two spectacular catches by Young in center field, robbing Brett Baty of extra bases and preventing a possible home run by Francisco Alvarez in the ninth inning.

They were crazy plays. At the moment we’re in, every win matters. Seeing plays like that definitely deflates you a little bit. We’ve suffered some tough losses. We have one week left. We’re going to do some damage, so that’s what we’re focused on.

Cedric Mullins