The Mets offense vanished in a 9-1 loss to the Pirates on June 28. Mitch Keller and a Bryan Reynolds homer sealed the deal. Is Juan Soto the only hope?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Another game, another offensive no-show. The New York Mets dropped a lopsided 9-1 contest to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, but the single loss feels secondary to the much larger, more frustrating problem: this lineup has gone completely cold. For the sixth time in their last eight games, the Mets failed to score more than two runs, leaving fans to wonder where the spark has gone and when it might return.
The Mets have scored two or fewer runs in six of their last eight games, a stretch that has tested the patience of the Flushing Faithful.
Saturday's game was one to forget. Pirates starter Mitch Keller, who came in winless in his last 15 starts, looked like a Cy Young contender against the lifeless Mets bats. He cruised deep into the game, silencing a lineup that managed just a single run. The nail in the coffin was a three-run blast from Bryan Reynolds that broke the game wide open. For the Mets, there were no silver linings—just a quiet flight home and a 48-36 record that feels a little less secure than it did a week ago.
Let's be honest, this isn't a one-game issue. The offensive statistics are grim. Outside of the superhuman Juan Soto, who has driven in over a quarter of the team's runs during this cold spell, the lineup has been an abyss. The 4-through-8 hitters have been particularly quiet, turning the bottom of the order into an automatic out. Manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged the team's over-reliance on the top of the order, admitting it's tough to win when you're only getting production from a couple of guys. While the Mets have faced a gauntlet of elite pitchers lately, excuses wear thin when the bats are this silent.
If you're looking for a reason to be optimistic, you'll have to look to the minor leagues. While the big-league club can't buy a run, the future looks bright. Top prospect Jett Williams is tearing it up at Double-A, and the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones are being powered by a trio of sluggers in Jacob Reimer, AJ Ewing, and Carson Benge, all boasting an OPS over .950. They're not alone, with names like Jesus Baez and Marco Vargas also making noise. On the mound, Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong are emerging as legitimate arms. It's a bittersweet reality: the help isn't here yet, but the pipeline is strong, reminding us that better days could be on the horizon.
The loss in Pittsburgh stings, and the offensive trend is genuinely concerning. However, the schedule is set to lighten up in July, offering a potential reprieve for the slumbering bats. The team needs more than just Juan Soto to carry the load if they hope to make a serious push. For now, fans are left to watch the box scores from the minors with envy, hoping some of that offensive magic makes its way to Queens sooner rather than later.
