The New York Mets were one of the hottest teams in baseball this season. Winning over 100 games, they were favored by many to make the World Series. Unfortunately for the dedicated Mets’ fanbase, the team crumbled when it mattered most.
They had a terrible end to the season, suffering defeat in a series that could determine their playoff seeding. In their matchup with the Atlanta Braves, the Mets needed to win just one game to ensure they wouldn’t need to play in the first round of the playoffs. In three games against the Braves the Mets scored just 7 runs, to Atlanta’s 14.
They failed to come away with a victory in the series. This resulted in the Mets obtaining the 4th seed in the playoffs. Meaning they would have to compete in the wild card round against the San Diego Padres.
The first game of the series was played in New York. The Padres started off well, scoring 3 times in the first 2 innings. The Mets seemingly couldn’t get anything going, not scoring a run until the fifth inning. In the same inning San Diego added 4 runs for a total of 7. This put the game out of reach as the Padres comfortably walked away with a 7-1 victory.
Max Scherzer of the Mets gave up 4 home runs while pitching in game 1. Mets fans have been vocal about the struggles of the once-believed to be star pitcher. As he signed a lucrative contract with the team in the past off-season.
Game two went much better for the Mets. The team looked energized and eager to pull away with a win. It was a close game all the way through the seventh inning, when the Mets added 4 runs to their total. They were able to shut the Padres down courtesy of Edwin Diaz’s stellar pitching and work in the field. Game 2 resulted in a 7-3 victory for the Mets.
With the series tied 1-1, game three was a must win for both teams. This game was tough to watch for Mets fans. Jumping out to a quick 2-0 lead after the second inning, the Padres certainly came to play.
The Mets set the record for the fewest hits as a team while facing elimination. This is not the record you want your team to hold. The Mets only hit of the game came in the bottom of the fifth inning, while already down 4-0. The teams’ struggles were very evident. Ultimately losing 6-0, the Mets season came to an abrupt end at Citi field on October 10th.
Failing to strike out batters and failing to put the ball in play are not ingredients of a winning baseball team. The Mets have a lot to address this offseason, hopefully prioritizing the re-signing of star pitcher Jacob deGrom. Ideally the Mets will also address their offensive line-up, hoping to add some solid hitters to the roster. Evidently, these are changes the Mets need to make if they desire further postseason success.