The New York Mets, after a significant offseason overhaul, are still struggling to find their footing. Their recent performance against the Los Angeles Dodgers at a sold-out Dodger Stadium only compounded their woes.
The Mets’ offense, missing Juan Soto, was shut out for the second straight game, succumbing to a 4-0 defeat against the Dodgers. This loss marks their sixth in a row, a stretch during which they’ve managed a mere nine runs.
Mets Offense Struggles Early in the Season
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged the team’s early-season adversity after the game. He said that every team faces challenges during the long season, and the Mets are encountering theirs now. Mendoza stressed the need for the team to find a way to overcome these obstacles.
Last year, the Mets’ pitching was to blame for their struggles. This year, it’s the offense that is struggling. The Mets have been shut out a major league-leading four times this season. This includes back-to-back shutouts for the first time since August 2024, a worrying sign considering the new additions to the lineup.
While Luis Robert Jr. has performed well, other new regulars like Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, and Marcus Semien are struggling. They have combined to slash just .207/.264/.293. To compound matters, Francisco Lindor is batting .176 with no home runs and has committed mental errors on the field. Juan Soto is also absent, nursing a calf strain since April 3, and isn’t expected back until the end of the month.
Semien acknowledged the team’s struggles in Soto’s absence. He said they are trying to hold it down for him, but that it has not been going well. He added that all they can do is work hard and show up ready to go the next day.
Dodgers Capitalise on Mets’ Missteps
The Mets went 1-5 on their recent homestand, losing two of three to the Arizona Diamondbacks before being swept by the Athletics. They hoped to turn things around against the Dodgers, but the series opener quickly went against them.
In the third inning, with two runners on and one out, Lindor fielded a grounder from Freddie Freeman and attempted to flip the ball to Semien for a double play. Semien caught the feed and stepped on the base but bobbled the transfer, ending any chance of completing the double play. Three pitches later, Andy Pages hit a 364-foot home run, extending the Dodgers’ lead to 4-0.
Semien lamented the missed double play opportunity. He stated that turning the double play would have been spectacular. He also said that they ended up needing it badly, and it didn’t happen.
Wrobleski Shuts Down Mets Offense
The Mets struggled mightily against 25-year-old left-hander Justin Wrobleski. He retired the first 13 batters he faced and allowed only one baserunner through seven innings. The Mets only managed two singles against him.
The Mets will look to regroup and bounce back in the remaining games of the series against the Dodgers.