Is It Too Late for the 2026 Mets to Save Their Season?
The New York Mets have hit rock bottom in 2026. Today, they fired manager Carlos Mendoza and named Senior Vice President of Player Development Andy Green as the interim manager for the remainder of the season. The Mets are currently 34-47 and have the third-worst record in the National League. They sit 15 games behind in the NL East Division and nine and a half games out of a Wild Card spot. They are coming off a disastrous week of baseball. They were swept by the Cubs and looked completely overmatched in last weekend's series loss to the Phillies. They have struggled in every facet of the game. New York’s starting pitching has failed to keep the team in games, the defense has been dreadful, highlighted by a six-error game this week, and the offense has lacked consistent production.
Mendoza became the Mets' manager in 2024. In his first season, he led the team to the National League Championship Series against the Dodgers. He finished his tenure with a 206-199 record, good for a .509 winning percentage. Interim manager Green has had previous MLB managerial experience, having managed the Padres for four seasons. It will be interesting to see how the team responds to the in-season firing of its manager and whether a new voice in the clubhouse can spark a turnaround. New York will need to go on a hot streak if they hope to keep their postseason aspirations alive and influence the front office's approach heading into the August 3rd MLB Trade Deadline.
The Mets are currently on a six-game losing streak after being swept in a four-game series to begin this week's home-stand against the Cubs and dropping the final two games of last weekend's series against the Phillies, the first meeting between the two division rivals this season. Three of the six losses were blowouts by scores of 15-3, 10-3, and 10-5. The starting pitching has been dreadful over the past couple of weeks. Freddy Peralta, the team's biggest offseason trade acquisition, has not looked like the ace he was with the Milwaukee Brewers, and his days as a Met could be numbered. New York may also be signaling that they will be sellers at the trade deadline after trading their longest-tenured player, David Peterson, to the Cubs yesterday in exchange for prospect Cole Mathis.
With more than half the season still to play, there is still an opportunity to climb back into the Wild Card race, but it will require a dramatic turnaround. Green will have to stabilize a team that has struggled in every aspect of the game, while the players must show a renewed sense of urgency and consistency. If the Mets cannot string together wins over the next few weeks, the front office will likely shift its focus toward selling at the trade deadline and building for the future rather than chasing an increasingly unlikely postseason berth. New York is still in the postseason hunt and not mathematically eliminated, but a winning streak and better all-around team play are needed now rather than later.
