The New York Mets have pretty much started this season as the biggest disappointment of the 2026 season so far, starting the year 10-20. What makes matters worse? They have the second highest payroll in the MLB, just behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. There is one big reason though New York may be able to come back from that anyway, and one big reason they can’t.
Can the Mets Turn Their Season Around?
Why They Can’t: The Mets End of the Lineup Cannot Hit At All
The Mets lineup is actually pretty good- well at least the first three hitters. Bo Bichette, Juan Soto, and Francisco Lindor are the Mets only good hitters it seems. Bichette has started slow after a big signing with New York, but he looks like he can start to click again. Soto is Soto, a generational talent. However, it goes down from there. Lindor went down with an injury that will last at least a month, right as he was starting to heat up.
Two other decent hitters, Luis Robert Jr. and Francisco Alvarez, have been very bad since a flaming start. Meaning even the middle of the lineup isn’t very good. The end of the lineup is absolutely atrocious, with Bret Baty, Mark Vientos, Marcus Semien, MJ Melendez, Carson Benge, and Ronny Mauricio consistently being in the end of the lineup. At to be quite frank, the numbers are revolting:
Baty: 1 HR, 12 RBI, .216 BA, 5 BB, 27 SO.
Vientos: 2 HR, 7 RBI, .236 BA, 6 BB, 19 SO.
Mauricio: 0 HR, 1 RBI, .227 BA, 0 BB, 9 SO.
Melendez: 1 HR, 3 RBI, .296 BA, 3 BB, 12 SO.
Benge: 2 HR, 4 RBI, .186 BA, 7 BB, 21 SO
Semien: 1 HR, 8 RBI, .226 BA, 8 BB, 24 SO
This is a disgusting combined 29 walks to 112 strikeouts. The offense cannot win games with this offensive. In baseball history, a team never has. There needs to be offense from the end of the lineup as well.
Why They Can: The Mets Rotation Has the Best 1-2-3 Punch In Baseball
If Mets fans want to feel some comfort, well, they have at the very least discovered the science behind teleportation. Well, at least it feels like it with Nolan McLean, who pitches like he has been doing it since he was born, and he is a rookie. Sal Stewart has been cooking, but folks, McLean is breathing down Stewarts neck for the rookie of the year. As for the other two, well, Freddy Peralta is undeniably an ace until he proves otherwise, which he hasn’t.
He hasn’t been moving mountains, but he has been okay. Clay Holmes meanwhile has been awesome, with an ERA of 1.75. Not to mention, since 2025, Holmes has been the Mets most reliable pitcher. The Mets need to figure out how to deal with the other spots in the rotation. However, even with that, the Mets have the foundation for a very good rotation.
If the offense can be even average, the Mets will win more games. It is as simple as that. The Mets offense has been that putrid. McLean, Holmes, and Peralta have given the Mets quality starts. The only problem is that once they allow one or twp runs, the Mets offense just doesn’t come back.
The Mets season isn’t over yet. However, New York must address certain issues if they can even hope to get back. New York was also 22-33 in 2024, and they came back to win 89 games that year. The Mets will need to go on a similar run in 2026 to reach the postseason.
Main Image: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
