Panic in Queens: What Has Happened to the New York Mets?

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The New York Mets entered the 2026 season with the league’s second-highest payroll and World Series aspirations. Fast forward to Sunday, and the “Amazins” have become anything but. Following a 4–2 loss to the Chicago Cubs yesterday at Wrigley Field, the Mets have officially hit a 10-game losing streak, plummeting to a tie for the worst record in MLB at 7–14.

This is the club’s longest slide since 2004, and the panic in Flushing is reaching a fever pitch. Here is a breakdown of what has gone wrong during this brutal April stretch.

1. The “Juan Soto” Void

The catalyst for the collapse is clear: Juan Soto. The superstar outfielder was hitting the cover off the ball until a right calf strain sidelined him on April 3. Since Soto went on the IL, the Mets are 3–10. Without his presence at the top of the order, opposing pitchers have been able to navigate the rest of the lineup with ease, leading to a league-low 71 runs scored so far this season.

2. An Offensive Deep Freeze

It isn’t just Soto’s absence; the entire lineup has gone cold simultaneously.

The Power Outage: The Mets are tied for the third-fewest home runs in baseball (15).
Situational Struggles: During this 10-game slide, the team has been outscored 60–18. They have scored two or fewer runs in 11 of their 21 games—the worst mark in the National League.
New Additions Faltering: High-priced free agent Jorge Polanco ($40M deal) was hitting just .179 before being placed on the IL yesterday with a wrist contusion.

3. Managing Under Fire

Manager Carlos Mendoza is already facing intense scrutiny. In yesterday’s loss, Mendoza pulled starter Freddy Peralta after 5.2 strong innings with the game tied 1–1. Reliever Brooks Raley immediately surrendered a tiebreaking three-run homer to Carson Kelly.

After the game, a visibly frustrated Mendoza didn’t mince words when asked about how the fans must be feeling:

“They have the right to be pissed and frustrated,” he said. “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.”

Historical Context: Is the Season Over?

History is not on New York’s side. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, only four teams in MLB history have lost 10+ games in a row and still made the postseason. Of those four, only one (the 1951 Giants) suffered that streak in April.

While the 2025 Cleveland Guardians proved it’s possible to recover from a double-digit skid, they didn’t do it with a $300M+ payroll and the relentless pressure of the New York media.

What’s Next?

The Mets conclude their series in Chicago today before returning to Citi Field for a much-needed home stand.

The Goal: Avoid an 11th straight loss, which would match the 2004 franchise record for futility.
The Hope: The team is desperately awaiting the return of Soto and looking for any sign of life from the middle of the order.

President of Baseball Operations David Stearns gave Mendoza a vote of confidence on Friday, but in New York, that clock ticks faster than anywhere else. If the Mets don’t find a win in the next 48 hours, the 2026 season might be over before the calendar even turns to May.