Mets Struggle in Atlanta, Reflect on Past Success

ATLANTA — As Carlos Mendoza entered the visiting manager’s office at Truist Park earlier this week, he was instantly reminded of the last day of the previous season. The Mets had made an unexpected trip south in a bid to overcome their historical struggles in Atlanta. Mendoza vividly remembered celebrating with Mets executives after securing a playoff spot thanks to a late homer from Francisco Lindor.

This Tuesday, Mendoza remarked, “I walked into the office and I had chills, memories, right away.” However, he quickly shifted his focus to the task at hand, acknowledging the significance of the series against a formidable opponent.

The following three days unfolded like a nightmare for the Mets. In a city notorious for its franchise lowlights, the Mets suffered three straight losses to their long-time rivals, the Braves, culminating in a disheartening 7-1 defeat on Thursday. This marked the Mets’ sixth consecutive loss of the season.

Brandon Nimmo, an outfielder for the Mets, stated, “It doesn’t matter if we were in Atlanta or heading to Philadelphia, these are strong teams, and you have to play well to win.” He acknowledged that the team didn’t perform sufficiently in all aspects during the series.

Atlanta has an uncanny ability to instill fear in the Mets. During this trip, the team placed two pitchers on the injured list, used a probable starter in an emergency relief role, and planned to call up two pitchers with elevated ERAs from the minors. Francisco Lindor struggled throughout the series, going hitless, while Juan Soto experienced the crowd chanting “Over-rated!” during the final game.

This losing streak echoed memories of the last time the Mets faced six straight defeats, which occurred after their 2023 Trade Deadline sell-off. Emotionally, the team hasn’t faced this kind of struggle in over a year, a period characterized by a memorable team meeting.

Starting pitcher Clay Holmes remarked, “It’s not ideal; we know that.” He became another victim of what seems to be afflicting the entire pitching staff, walking a personal-high six batters. The first reliever, Huascar Brazobán, entered the game and allowed additional runs to score before the inning ended. As the Mets pondered the reasons behind their struggles, Mendoza and Nimmo reiterated a classic sentiment: “It’s part of 162.” They recognized that while they are currently facing adversity, there’s still an opportunity to bounce back.

Looking ahead, the challenges are unlikely to ease for the Mets, who traveled to Philadelphia for a game against Cy Young contender Zack Wheeler. With their starting pitcher Justin Hagenman already used in emergency relief, rookie Blade Tidwell will take the mound, having struggled in earlier outings. Despite current hardships, Nimmo remains optimistic, asserting that the recent losses do not define the team’s potential and that they still have what it takes to succeed against any opponent.