Three months ago, the Mets looked unstoppable. They were 45-24, comfortably ahead in the NL East and eyeing a 100-win season. But baseball seasons can turn quickly, and September has delivered nothing but heartbreak. After a 3-7 road trip capped by a sweep in Philadelphia, the Mets’ 76-71 record now has them 11 games back in the division and barely holding onto the final Wild Card slot.
Pete Alonso, who has become the voice of the clubhouse alongside Juan Soto, didn’t try to dress it up. In a conversation with Jon Heyman on the New York Post podcast, Alonso admitted the obvious: “Frustrated. That’s obviously not great.”
Injuries Take Their Toll
Alonso pointed to the injuries that derailed the rotation and stretched the bullpen thin. A.J. Minter’s torn lat muscle ended his season in May. Frankie Montas‘ UCL issue knocked him out in August. Griffin Canning’s ruptured Achilles and Max Kranick’s absence after 40 strong innings only added to the list.
“When you have starters go down and you’re trying to figure out who fits where… you definitely miss those quality starts,” Alonso said. “There was a lot of plug and play we had to do. It created a long ripple effect.”
The strain showed in Philadelphia, where frustration boiled over. Mark Vientos slammed his helmet after a strikeout, Jeff McNeil tossed his bat aside in anger, and manager Carlos Mendoza did his best to keep the dugout composed. “I’m responsible,” Mendoza said. “It’s my job to get these guys going, and I will.”
David Peterson, who gave up three runs in five innings in the latest loss, kept his message short: “We’ve got 15 games left. Past is the past. We have to let it go and play better.”
Can Home Field Heal the Wounds?
If there’s a silver lining, it’s that the Mets are back at Citi Field for a nine-game homestand. They’ve been far better at home (45-27) than on the road, and reinforcements could be coming. Kodai Senga is working toward a late-season return, while rookies Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong are showing they’re not intimidated by the moment.
Meanwhile, Soto is carrying the lineup, authoring his first 30-30 season and hitting .375 with seven homers over his last 15 games.
The path ahead is narrow, but the Mets still control their fate. With time running short, the urgency Alonso and his teammates feel is now the only fuel they can rely on.
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