The underachieving New York Mets have taken enough punches this season, but they keep providing reasons to kick them while they're down. In Friday's 7-0 loss to the Atlanta Braves, the Mets' disastrous season hit a historic new low.
The Mets became the first team in the modern era to record seven-plus hits and nine or more walks in a major league game while failing to score a run, per OptaStats.
Braves shutout the Mets 7-0, and have now won 12 of their last 14 games vs. New York going back to last year. pic.twitter.com/bJNrFvXIeX
— Atlanta Braves Radio Network ️ (@BravesRadioNet) August 12, 2023
Throughout the season, the Mets' offense, ranked 20th in runs scored, has come up small. On Friday, their struggles continued at the plate.
New York had seven hits on the night, but only one went for extra bases. Meanwhile, the Mets were an abysmal 0-of-12 with runners in scoring position, with designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach leading the way with four failed chances. Overall, the Mets left 14 runners on base against the Braves in the loss.
While they've been on life support for a while, the Mets' playoff hopes seemed to cease with Friday's loss. Furthermore, shortstop Francisco Lindor missed the game with soreness on his right side, snapping the Mets' franchise record for consecutive games played. Lindor's run ends at 223 games, the shortest of any team in MLB.
New York has lost eight of 11 games in August, falling to 52-63. However, even if the Mets have waved the white flag for this season, selling off big pieces like pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander at the deadline, it doesn't mean they aren't ramping up to be big spenders this offseason.
According to a recent reporter from MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, the Mets will be among the teams vying to sign Los Angeles Angels two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani. Rosenthal said Mets owner Steve Cohen won't pass up on the opportunity to land Ohtani, believing those who think he will "haven't been paying attention."
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