The Mets are enduring an eight-game losing streak, recently culminating in an 8-2 loss to the Dodgers. Players express frustration as they search for solutions to reverse their poor performance.
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LOS ANGELES — The Mets' search for answers will continue east from Los Angeles to Chicago this weekend.
The quest to claim any semblance of positive results has stretched more than a week and spanned four separate opponents. It continued with the latest staggering result on Wednesday night, a 8-2 loss to the Dodgers, capping a three-game sweep at Dodger Stadium.
"I don't really wrap my head around it," Bo Bichette said of the club's eight-game losing streak. "It's tough right now. If we knew the answer, we'd do it, but we'll keep working to try and figure it out."
The emotions began to bubble to the surface on Wednesday, with Francisco Alvarez spiking his bat along the first-base line on a ground out. It spilled into a muted clubhouse postgame. The cause of the skid is impossible to pin on one segment of the team.
"They're pissed, frustrated, obviously not very happy about it," Carlos Mendoza said. "And I want them to be pissed."
With the Mets' losing streak continuing, here are eight concerns that have bubbled to the surface:
New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto (22) flips his bat after striking out against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fourth inning on April 1, 2026, at Busch Stadium.
Mendoza provided some encouraging news before Wednesday's finale, noting that Juan Soto had begun running for the second straight day and faced live pitching back at Citi Field as he works back from a right calf strain.
The Mets badly need their superstar outfielder back but nothing is set in stone despite the team's hope that he will be able to return at some point during the team's homestand beginning next week.
Soto is slashing .355./412/.516 with one home run, five RBI and three runs in eight games but how will his rhythm be affected by a potential two- to three-week layoff.
The Mets' losing streak is attributed to multiple factors, with no single cause identified by the team.
The Mets lost all three games in their recent series against the Dodgers, including an 8-2 defeat.
Players like Francisco Alvarez have shown visible frustration, indicating that the team is upset and eager to find solutions.
The Mets will continue their search for answers as they travel to Chicago this weekend.
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New York Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (34) pitches in the first inning against the Athletics on April 11, 2026, at Citi Field.
During the Mets' losing streak, the lone game where they scored more than two runs, Kodai Senga was shelled for one of his worst starts of his career.
Much of the good first impression that Senga had accumulated in his first two starts was wiped away against the Athletics as he gave up seven earned runs on eight hits and two walks and only threw 2⅓ innings.
Senga did not have the same zip on his fastball and struggled some with his command during a lengthy second inning. He'll have an opportunity to show that it was a fluky result on Friday against the Cubs.
One of the turning points of Wednesday's loss came in the top of the fifth inning.
The Mets had Shohei Ohtani on the ropes after Francisco Alvarez drew a leadoff walk. Carson Benge looped a ball into left field that was trapped by Teoscar Hernandez. Alvarez did not see the umpire's signal, retreated and was thrown out at second base. It may have ultimately cost the Mets the tying run.
In the eighth inning, Francisco Lindor did not charge a chopper from Hernandez, which allowed him to reach. Three batters later, Devin Williams was tagged for a grand slam. Lindor's usually crisp play has gone under the microscope with several mental miscues early in the season.
New York Mets infielder Francisco Lindor (12) looks on while batting against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning on April 2, 2026, at Oracle Park.
On top of that, Lindor has reverted back to his tendency for getting out to slow starts after 2025's relative outlier.
In 19 games this season, the Mets' leadoff hitter is slashing .184/.287/.289. He drove in his first run in his 18th game on Tuesday night on a leadoff home run off Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Lindor's lifetime OPS in March/April is .757 compared to his .815 career mark.
Lindor has a way of easing concerns as seasons go on, but he did not have a usual spring ramp-up due to left hand surgery and there have been other uncharacteristic hiccups along the way.
New York Mets pitcher David Peterson (23) reacts during the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 8, 2026, at Citi Field.
A season ago, David Peterson was the Mets' most reliable starting pitcher early in the season. With a 6-4 record, 3.18 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in the first half of the season, the left-hander earned his first All-Star selection.
But since the second half of last season, Peterson has pitched to a 5.94 ERA in his last 17 outings.
Peterson has given up a combined 14 runs in his last three starts following a strong debut of 5⅓ scoreless innings. He felt better about his command last time out but needs to prove it consistently.
New York Mets third baseman Mark Vientos (27) reacts after striking out in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 14, 2026, at Dodger Stadium.
The Mets are counting on both Brett Baty and Mark Vientos to be key offensive contributors early in the season, and while the pair has shown flashes, the struggles have been apparent during the recent skid.
Over the last two series, Baty is 0-for-15 with eight strikeouts. Vientos, who opened the season 10-for-21, is now mired in a 0-for-23 slump over the last three series.
Baty has yet to draw a walk this season while striking out 20 times, second on the team behind Bichette.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 29: Jorge Polanco #11 of the New York Mets runs during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field on March 29, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
When the Mets front office signed Jorge Polanco to a two-year, $40 million deal in the offseason, they were hoping they would get the clutch switch hitter, who posted a .821 OPS and batted .337 with runners in scoring position a season ago with the Mariners.
The 32-year-old, who was expected to be slotted in at first base regularly, has been unable to make a meaningful impact as he's been dealing with a nagging case of Achilles bursitis. Mendoza said the Mets are continuing to weigh whether a stint on the injured list could be beneficial.
Right now, Polanco, who is supposed to be a key contributor in the heart of the lineup, is slashing .179/.246/.286. He's spent just two games at first base.
When David Stearns exchanged some big power for run prevention with the exits of Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo, the Mets seemed like they could strike in different ways.
But nearly 20 games into the season, that approach has not led to results. While the Mets are middle of the pack with 142 hits - tied for 15th in MLB - they have scored the fifth-fewest runs in baseball.
They've taken the sixth-fewest walks and lead the league with 178 groundouts. It has all amounted to a .617 team OPS which only trails the White Sox as the worst in MLB.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Ranking Mets’ 8 biggest concerns within their 8-game losing streak