The New York Mets are reeling, and their margin for error is vanishing.
A 6–4 loss to the Phillies on Thursday capped a brutal four-game sweep in Philadelphia, turning what was once a comfortable division race into a fight for postseason survival.
The Mets blew a 4–0 lead in the finale, and now find themselves clinging to just a 1.5-game edge over both the Giants and Reds for the third National League wild card.
It’s a stunning collapse for a team that, on June 12, had the best record in baseball and a 5.5-game cushion atop the NL East.
Mendoza: “We Don’t Have Too Much Time”
After the game, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza tried to strike a balance between urgency and reassurance, though his words revealed the tension.
“I’m not going to say that I’m worried, but we don’t have too much time,” Mendoza told reporters. “Teams are right behind us. … The way you look at it is we’re still in control of the situation. We’re still in control of achieving the ultimate goal, but we gotta go out and do it.”
Mets Go From First Place to Freefall
Since mid-June, the Mets have played to the third-worst record in baseball. The biggest culprit? Pitching. Despite bolstering their bullpen at the deadline, the staff has imploded with a combined 5.08 ERA during the slide.
The collapse has left fans restless and the clubhouse visibly frustrated. Mendoza acknowledged that responsibility ultimately falls on him.
“I’m responsible. I’m the manager,” he said. “It’s my job to get these guys going, and I will. I have a lot of confidence [in] myself, my coaches and the players. It’s not easy right now, and we are all frustrated. But like I said, we still got an opportunity here to achieve our goal.”
What’s Next: Rangers, Padres, and Pressure
According to FanGraphs, the Mets still have a 77.9% chance of making the postseason. But with the Rangers and Padres — both playoff-caliber opponents — up next, the window to reset momentum is closing fast.
For a team that once looked like a juggernaut, the math is suddenly simple: win, or risk watching October from home.
And after being humbled in Philadelphia, the Mets don’t have much time left to prove they’re still contenders.
