Mets lose 7-1 to the Braves on June 20, 2025, as Spencer Strider dominates and Matt Olson delivers. The loss is overshadowed by a major injury to ace Kodai Senga.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Well, that was a gut punch. Just as the Mets entered the most crucial stretch of their season, they were hit with a devastating one-two combination. On Friday, the team not only got dismantled 7-1 by the Atlanta Braves, but they also learned they'll be without their ace, Kodai Senga, for a month or more. It was a day that tested the resolve of every Mets fan and raised serious questions about the team's ability to weather the storm.
'The next 10 days, we’ve got to play well.' - Manager Carlos Mendoza
The game itself was a forgettable affair in Atlanta. Braves starter Spencer Strider was in peak form, mowing down Mets hitters to the tune of eight strikeouts over six dominant innings. The Mets' offense, which has shown flashes of inconsistency, went completely silent, managing just a single run and failing to produce a single player with multiple hits. The back-breaker came from old foe Matt Olson, whose three-run double blew the game wide open and sealed the Mets' fate. It was a stark reminder of how difficult runs are to come by against elite pitching.
The loss stings, but the news that broke before the game hurts far more. Kodai Senga, the undisputed ace of the staff and the MLB's ERA leader, is heading to the injured list with a strained right hamstring suffered on Thursday. The initial prognosis is a month or more on the shelf. Losing Senga is a massive blow to a rotation that has been the backbone of this team's success. While the injury isn't considered season-ending, his absence creates a gaping hole at the top and puts immense pressure on the remaining starters to pick up the slack.
This all comes at the worst possible time, as the Mets have just begun what Manager Carlos Mendoza calls 'the gauntlet'—a 10-game stretch against the Braves and Phillies. 'We knew there were some good teams... in our division,' Mendoza said. 'Here we are. We’ve got to get ready.' Despite the ugly loss and the Senga news, it's crucial to remember the Mets still hold a 2.5-game lead in the NL East and the best record in the National League. Their rotation's 2.93 ERA still leads all of baseball, but that number will be put to the ultimate test now.
If there's a silver lining to be found, it might be deep in the farm system. Hard-throwing relief prospect Raimon Gomez is reportedly healthy and looking sharp in his recovery from Tommy John surgery. While he's not an immediate solution, the organization is optimistic he could provide a much-needed power arm to the bullpen later this season. With the rotation now in flux, having potential reinforcements on the horizon is a small but welcome piece of good news.
This is a gut-check moment for the Mets. Losing your ace and getting thumped by your rival on the same day is a brutal combination. How the team responds over the next nine games against the Braves and Phillies will tell us everything we need to know about their championship aspirations. It's time to see if the 'best record in the NL' is just a hot start or the mark of a truly resilient team.
