After a 1-5 homestand, the New York Mets find themselves under .500. Despite a flood of offseason acquisitions, the team finds itself in a familiar position, as The Athletic’s Tim Sammon writes.
“Sixteen games into the season, the 2026 Mets look and sound a lot like the 2025 Mets.
A 1-0 loss to the Athletics on Sunday punctuated a putrid sweep and pushed New York’s losing streak to five.”
On April 7, the team defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks. The victory raised their record to 7-4, a half-game ahead in the National League East. Since then, the team hasn’t won a game. Now, they sit in the divisional basement with a 7-9 record.
GettyMets second baseman Marcus Semien.
Mendoza Trudging Through Rough Waters
Manager Carlos Mendoza continues to try to find a reason why the team struggles, mostly at the plate.
“Tough homestand overall offensively,” manager Carlos Mendoza said of six games in which the Mets scored 13 runs. “At times chasing, passive, in between. A few innings with non-competitive at-bats. It’s not creating enough traffic to put together a rally.”
Exactly half of the games ended with New York scoring three or fewer runs. Since the 11-run outburst on Opening Day, the team scored six runs just three times. One-tenth of the season is over, which gives the team 146 chances to improve. However, on an individual basis, many Mets continue to struggle. This trend mirrors last year’s collapse.
GettyAthletics first baseman Tyler Soderstrom hits a two-run home run against the Mets.
The Specter of June 12, 2025, Hangs Over Franchise
305 days ago, New York sat atop the NL East. After a 4-3 home win against the Washington Nationals. At the time, the Mets held a 45-24 record. 5.5 games ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies. From that point on, the team finished 38-55. Moreover, a 22-32 mark in August and September sealed the team’s fate. With 29 games down the stretch scoring three or fewer runs, a lack of offense appears to have continued from the end of last season. Additionally, it starts at the top.
GettyMets starter Kodai Senga pitches during June 12, 2025 game against the Washington Nationals. The Mets held a 5.5 game lead over the Phillies that they squandered.
Lindor’s Leadoff Issue Could Require Change
Since arriving in Queens, shortstop Francisco Lindor has provided the Mets with an offensive catalyst. From the lead-off spot, the switch-hitter traditionally brings power and extra bases to the table. However, Lindor cannot generate consistent, strong contact. First, the 16-game streak without a home run or RBI to start the season is the longest of his career.
According to Baseball Savant, Lindor’s trouble travels deeper than overall batting average. Last year, he hit .250 against breaking balls. Now, that mark fell to .095. As a result, curveballs will continue to find Lindor during his at-bats.
Lindor notoriously starts slow at the plate. However, mental lapses in the field and on the basepaths plague the perennial All-Star. While seemingly entrenched as the leadoff batter, could Mendoza shake up the order?
Here’s another look at that potential double play ball that Francisco Lindor was not in position to turn: pic.twitter.com/xDcqhhCQw7
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) April 11, 2026
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The Next Six Games Become an Early Litmus Test
The Mets start the road trip in Los Angeles against the Dodgers. The offense will need to dig deeper. Two of their opposing starting pitchers will be Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Furthermore, Los Angeles doesn’t only boast power arms as starters and relievers, but also, when teams make contact, the ball lacks resonant force. According to Baseball Reference, teams strike the ball with an average exit velocity of 86.9 miles per hour. Also, Los Angeles surrendered only 34.2% of batted balls that fall into the hard-hit category.
At the end of the trip, a three-game stop in Chicago to face the Cubs, who are also under .500 with a 7-8 record. Still, the Cubs possess a staff that generates swings and misses. New York already fell into a funk of chasing pitches, which opens the door to quick innings.
The Mets face a crossroads as a team. Embarking on a win streak calms tensions and pushes the team forward. However, continued struggles could flip the season upside down.
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