Juan Soto's homer wasn't enough as the Mets fell 3-2 to the rival Braves on June 24. See how a late rally died and the Mets' losing streak continued.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It's a script Mets fans are getting tired of reading. A flash of brilliance from a superstar, a glimmer of hope in the late innings, and ultimately, another frustratingly close loss. Tuesday night's 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Atlanta Braves was a masterclass in this recent, painful trend, as the Mets dropped their ninth game in the last ten, leaving the Citi Field faithful wondering when the nightmare will end.
Despite losing nine of their last ten, the Mets still hold an 84.5% chance to make the postseason, according to Baseball Reference.
The series opener against the division-rival Braves played out in agonizing fashion. Atlanta got on the board with a Ronald Acuña Jr. home run, and their starter, Spencer Schwellenbach, was masterful, holding the Mets lineup in check for seven innings. Mets starter Paul Blackburn wasn't bad, surrendering three runs over six solid frames, but with the offense sputtering, it wasn't enough. The game's pivotal moment came in the bottom of the eighth. Down 3-2 with runners on the corners, the one man you'd want at the plate, Juan Soto, stepped in. But in a cruel twist, he struck out against Dylan Lee, ending the threat and sealing the Mets' fate.
If there's one silver lining in this dark cloud of a slump, it's Juan Soto. His two-run blast in the sixth inning was the entirety of the Mets' offense and his eighth home run in a scorching month of June. He's been the one consistent, terrifying force in the lineup, putting a slow start to the season firmly in the rearview mirror. Yet, his eighth-inning strikeout serves as a stark reminder that baseball is a team sport. Soto can't carry this team alone, and his heroics are being wasted as the rest of the lineup struggles to provide support.
It feels impossible, but it's true: despite this horrific 1-9 stretch, the Mets are still 46-32 and in second place in the NL East. Advanced models still love them, with Baseball Reference giving the team an 84.5% chance of making the playoffs. Manager Carlos Mendoza remains publicly confident, and perhaps he has a reason. Help is officially on the way for the pitching staff. Right-hander Frankie Montas, a key offseason acquisition sidelined with a shoulder issue, is finally set to come off the injured list and make his long-awaited Mets debut in the next game. A fresh, power arm is exactly what this team needs to break the cycle of close losses.
The pressure is mounting, and the frustration is palpable. Another loss to the Braves would be a gut punch. But tomorrow is a new day, with a new arm on the mound. All eyes will be on Frankie Montas as he takes the ball, tasked with not just winning a game, but stopping the bleeding and reminding this team—and its fans—that their high-flying season isn't over yet. It's time for a new script.
