The Mets Were Talking World Series, Now They're Losing 2-1 to The Marlins For Last Place

Buckle up, Emerald City! Remember when the New York Mets were talking World Series just a few short weeks ago? Well, 51 games into 2026, their season is already looking like a total nightmare. On Friday night, they dropped a brutal 2-1 game to the Miami Marlins. That loss officially knocked them back into last place in the NL East. After all that hype, they're fighting tooth and nail just to climb out of the basement. Ouch.

What Happened to The World Series Hype?

Just one day before that Friday loss, the Mets actually clawed their way out of last place for the first time since April 28. Talk about a roller coaster! But their recent form has been rough. The Miami loss was their third in the last four games, and they've been outscored a brutal 20-13 over that stretch. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza tried to put a positive spin on it: "You take the positives. Obviously, it's not what you want as far as the results, not getting the job done, not able to get the win." When your team struggles to get both offense and pitching to click, it's tough to find many positives. Before this latest skid, they showed flashes, going 6-1 in a seven-game stretch and outscoring opponents 53-29. The potential is there, but consistency is gone. They're already 13 1/2 games behind the Atlanta Braves. That's a deep hole, folks.

Marlins Find a Way, Even When The Bat Goes Quiet

The Marlins aren't exactly lighting the world on fire either. They've won consecutive games only once this month, going 8-13. But Friday night was different. They pulled off that 2-1 win despite silent bats, a big deal since it was their first win scoring two runs or fewer since beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 on April 28. Their pitching and defense absolutely carried them. Eury Perez and Marlins relievers held the Mets to just three hits. Perez gave up only two hits to Juan Soto over 6 1/3 innings, including Soto's first-inning homer. Huge shoutout to center fielder Jakob Marsee, who robbed Mets leadoff hitter Carson Benge twice with highlight-reel catches. Marlins manager Clayton McCullough summed it up: "To win games like that 2-1, you generally are going to need a little bit of luck on your side and also (are) going to have to make some plays." They made the plays, got the luck, and jumped past the Mets into fourth. Miami is still 13 games behind the Braves, but hey, at least they're not in the basement.

What's Next? Another Fight For Survival

So, what's on tap for Saturday afternoon? The Mets are sending Freddy Peralta (3-3, 3.31 ERA) to the mound, hoping he can right the ship. Peralta didn't get a decision in his last start, giving up three runs over five innings when the Mets edged the New York Yankees 7-6 in 10 innings. He's got a career record of 3-4 with a 4.03 ERA in 11 games against the Marlins. He'll face Max Meyer (4-0, 2.85 ERA) for Miami. Meyer earned a win Monday night after throwing six scoreless innings in a 12-0 blowout against the Atlanta Braves. He's 1-1 with a 3.48 ERA in two starts against the Mets. This isn't just another game for New York. It's a battle to prove they aren't going to roll over and stay in last place. Can Peralta give them the start they desperately need? We'll be watching to see if the Mets can avoid sinking even deeper!

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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.