Mets' Justin Verlander reacts to boos in home debut

New York Mets co-ace Justin Verlander couldn't blame home fans for booing him and teammates during Tuesday's 8-5 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays at Citi Field. 

"I understand the fans are frustrated; we're frustrated, too," Verlander remarked after the defeat, per Joon Lee of ESPN. "We expect to be better. I expect to be better. I think this entire organization expects to be better, and there's only one thing left to do, and that's put your head down, work hard and find your way out of this slump."

Verlander joined the Mets this past offseason via a two-year, $86.66M deal that includes a vesting third-year option but has been more a part of the club's problems than a solution this spring. The 40-year-old missed over a month with a shoulder issue, has made only three starts and surrendered six earned runs on eight hits across just five innings of work against the Rays in his New York home debut. 

A big-spending Mets team thought to be World Series contenders in late March is now 20-23. New York began Wednesday trailing the first-place Atlanta Braves in the National League East standings by six-and-a-half games. 

It was less than two full years ago when Francisco Lindor and Javier Baez had to publicly apologize to Mets fans for a controversial "thumbs-down" celebration players used at that time as a response to hearing boos at Citi Field. Manager Buck Showalter wasn't with the club that summer and insisted his players feel no better about the current state of the team than paying customers. 

"People come out here and want to see the Mets win, want to see us do well, and they get frustrated just like we do," Showalter said about the latest boos heard in Queens.

Fellow Mets co-ace Max Scherzer, who hasn't lived up to expectations since Opening Day for a myriad of reasons, recently expressed optimism that the Amazins "can win" and will eventually "get in the groove." Verlander was singing somewhat of a different tune after Tuesday's loss. 

"There's teams that click at the right time and find their mojo and go from there," Verlander explained. "I think we're past the point of just waiting for that to happen and I think we need to make it happen."

The Mets next host the 32-11 Rays on Wednesday night.