For the New York Mets, the 2025 Major League Baseball season has been a wild ride of soaring highs and gut-wrenching lows. But on September 14th, the energy at Citi Field was electric, as Pete Alonso delivered a moment Mets fans won’t soon forget—a walk-off, three-run homer in the 10th inning that snapped an agonizing eight-game losing streak and reignited hope in a season teetering on the edge.
It wasn’t just another home run. As Mets broadcaster Ron Darling put it, "He prolonged their season in 2024," referencing Alonso’s heroics in last year’s wild-card series. "He might have saved their season in 2025." For a team that had watched its once-commanding National League East lead evaporate and its wild-card cushion shrink to a razor-thin margin, Alonso’s blast was nothing short of a lifeline.
The Mets’ 5-2 victory over the Texas Rangers wasn’t just a win—it was a much-needed exhale for a club and a fanbase battered by a brutal September. Only days before, the Mets had suffered losses to the Cincinnati Reds, endured a four-game sweep at the hands of the division-leading Philadelphia Phillies, and dropped two gut-wrenching contests to the Rangers, including a blown 2-0 lead in the final innings on September 13th. The eight-game slide marked their worst losing streak since 2018, when they dropped 11 straight. During this recent drought, Mets pitchers posted a staggering 6.27 ERA and were outscored 47-20. Ouch!
It was the kind of stretch that tests the mettle of any team—and its fans. As only the most die-hard supporters could understand, this franchise has a history of late-season heartbreak. Who could forget the infamous collapse in 2007, when the Mets blew a seven-game lead with just 17 games to play? The echoes of past pain were unmistakable as the Mets watched their wild-card lead dwindle to just half a game over the surging San Francisco Giants.
Yet, amid the gloom, there were still voices of belief. Star outfielder Juan Soto, after another tough loss, insisted, "We have the energy. We have the guys. We have everything we need to go all the way." But belief alone wouldn’t turn the tide. The Mets, boasting a $340 million payroll—the second highest in the game—had been one of baseball’s worst clubs since mid-June. On June 12th, they were 45-24, leading the Phillies by 5.5 games and holding a 75% chance to win the division, with a whopping 96% chance to make the playoffs, according to FanGraphs. Since then? Only the Rockies and Twins had fared worse.
So, what went wrong? The unraveling can be traced to three key areas: starting pitching, bullpen performance, and offensive consistency.
First, the rotation. Through June 12th, Mets starters had a sparkling 2.79 ERA, best in the majors. But since then, that figure ballooned to 5.09, ranking just 24th. Desperation set in, and the Mets turned to three rookies: Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong, and Brandon Sproat. McLean, who debuted on August 16th, has been a rare bright spot, going 4-1 with a 1.19 ERA in six starts. He tossed six scoreless innings against the Rangers on Sunday, but the bullpen couldn’t hold his lead. Sproat, after a shaky debut, rebounded with six shutout innings on September 13th. Tong, who led the minors in ERA and strikeouts before his call-up, struggled mightily in his most recent outing, failing to escape the first inning. Veterans David Peterson and Clay Holmes, both overworked, saw their ERAs spike post-All-Star break, while Sean Manaea was demoted to the bullpen after a tough stretch and Kodai Senga was sent to Triple-A following a disastrous August.
The bullpen, once a pillar of strength, has been even more volatile. Through June 12th, the Mets’ relievers owned a 2.82 ERA, second best in baseball. Afterward? A 5.04 ERA, plummeting to 26th. Trade deadline acquisition Ryan Helsley, expected to be a difference-maker, instead posted a 0-3 record with four blown saves and a 10.29 ERA in 17 appearances. He’s now relegated to mop-up duty, a far cry from the late-inning weapon the Mets envisioned. The circle of trust has shrunk to Brooks Raley, Tyler Rogers, and closer Edwin Diaz, but even they faltered during the skid—blowing leads in both the ninth and tenth innings on September 13th and 14th. Ryne Stanek, who helped escape a late jam on Sunday, summed up the collective relief: "That win felt like a deep breath."
Offensively, the Mets have been unpredictable. During the eight-game losing streak, they hit just .211 and managed only 20 runs. Yet, since mid-June, the numbers tell a slightly different story: a .250/.323/.425 slash line and an average of 4.8 runs per game, ranking them 11th in the majors. The problem? Rarely have stars Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso all clicked at once. The lineup, on paper, has championship potential, but it hasn’t consistently delivered when needed most.
Despite their woes, fortune smiled on the Mets over the weekend. The Cincinnati Reds, their closest wild-card pursuers, were swept by the Athletics, while the Giants cooled off after a hot streak, dropping two games to the Dodgers. As a result, the Mets’ wild-card cushion grew to 1.5 games over San Francisco and two over the Arizona Diamondbacks, with the Reds 2.5 games back. Importantly, the Mets own key tiebreakers against their rivals—a crucial edge with just 12 regular-season games remaining.
Still, the damage to their reputation was evident. In the latest USA TODAY Sports MLB power rankings, the Mets dropped three spots to No. 14. Yet, as the dust settled at Citi Field after Alonso’s dramatic walk-off, hope was rekindled. The Gatorade and sunflower seeds may have been cleaned up, but the message was clear: This team isn’t done yet.
With 12 games left, the Mets’ postseason fate hangs in the balance. They’ve survived a brutal skid, but the road ahead is fraught with challenges. The rotation remains unproven, the bullpen shaky, and the offense inconsistent. But as Sunday’s celebration showed, baseball is a game of moments—and sometimes, one swing can change everything.
As the Mets gear up for the final stretch, Citi Field is buzzing once again. The agony of the past week is in the rearview mirror, replaced by cautious optimism. The wild-card race is tight, the stakes are sky-high, and New York’s playoff destiny is still very much in their own hands.
