The struggles and losses are mounting for the New York Mets.

Following a 4-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Saturday, April 18, the Mets' losing streak rose to 10 straight games. The 10th consecutive loss dropped them to 7-14 on the season and tied for the worst record in the MLB just over midway through April. The Kansas City Royals also own a 7-14 record as of Saturday.

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The 10-game losing skid is the longest for the franchise since it lost 11 in a row from Aug. 28-Sept. 8, 2004. New York is just 4-8 away from Citi Field so far this season.

Third baseman Mark Vientos gave the Mets a 1-0 lead on a solo home run in the top of the second inning. However, the Cubs responded with a run in the bottom of the inning, on a leadoff home run from Ian Happ.

The game remained tied until the sixth inning, when pinch-hitter Carson Kelly made Freddy Peralta pay for two walks earlier in the inning with a three-run home run. The Mets added a run in the top of the eighth inning, but never drew closer.

The struggles for New York persist despite an MLB-high payroll of $357,626,125 for the 2026 season, entering Opening Day. The Mets handed Bo Bichette a three-year, $126 million contract this past offseason. However, he has hit for a .227 average so far this season, along with a .564 OPS.

At 7-14, the Mets have the worst record in the National League through 21 games and are in last place in the NL East. It also marks their worst start since 1983, when they started 6-15. The Mets finished 68-94 that season.

New York started the 2025 season with a 45-24 record, but finished 38-55 the rest of the way.

Mets losing streak by the numbers

Here's a look at the Mets losing streak, by the numbers:

• 2: The Mets have two home runs during the losing streak. Vientos hit the second on Saturday.
• 3: Marks the number of times New York has been shutout during its 10-game losing skid.
• 15: The Mets have had two 15-game losing streaks in franchise history, with the last coming in 1983.
• 17: The longest losing streak for New York came in its inaugural season; it lost 17 straight between May 21 and June 6, 1962.
• 18: Represents the number of runs the Mets have scored during the losing streak. They have scored more than four runs once during that period.

Longest Mets losing streaks

The Mets are back in action on Sunday, April 18, against the Cubs, looking to avoid a sweep. Another loss would tie the franchise record for the seventh-longest losing streak in franchise history.

New York also has losing streaks of 12, 13, 15 and 17 games in its history:

• 17 Games: May 21 – June 6, 1962
• 15 Games: May 15 – June 1, 1963; Aug 16 – Aug 30, 1982
• 13 Games: May 19 – May 31, 1962; July 30 – Aug 12, 1980
• 12 Games: July 23 – Aug 5, 2002
• 11 Games: Five times (1962, 1963, 1965, 1991, and Aug 28-Sept 8, 2004)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mets' miserable start continues, losing streak rises to 10 games

So… that was fun! The Orioles got shut out for seven innings, gave up a grand slam, and still won. The bottom of the lineup was pivotal in that monster eighth inning: Leody Taveras had a big walk in a key situation, outfielder Weston Wilson doubled with the bases lodaed, and Jeremiah Jackson hit the game-winning Earl Weaver Special. Now hitting .317 with a .923 OPS, Jackson is making it hard to move on from him, even when the regular guys come back from the injured list.

It was a great win, although it would be awesome, I admit, if the offense could show up a little earlier (they were no-hit through eight the night before). The Orioles will have to push their runs across Gavin Williams, a 26-year-old righty who’s 2-1 so far with a 2.38 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and a 29:16 strikeout-to-walk ratio in four starts. At 6’6, 250 lbs, the 2021 first-rounder is big, throws hard, and has command of multiple pitches. And he’s been even better his last three starts, with just one earned run over 17.2 innings. This is a tough test for the O’s lineup, no doubt.

Kremer comes in at 0-0 with a 3.60 ERA and 9 strikeouts, having just been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk in time to slot back into the rotation. I will say I am happy to have him back. Despite his reputation for bad Aprils, his recent Norfolk stints showed him getting sharper, and while proving extremely homer-prone (3 HR allowed in five IP) he looked more like himself in his most recent outing against the Diamondbacks: the nine strikeouts were nice.

This looks to be a tough matchup, but if Kremer can keep the ball in the yard and the offense can work some walks and get Jackson or Gunnar to time up a fastball, they could scratch out a win. Crazier things have happened—and just this week!

Orioles lineup

1. Gunnar Henderson SS
2. Taylor Ward LF
3. Pete Alonso 1B
4. Dylan Beavers RF
5. Colton Cowser DH
6. Leody Taveras CF
7. Samuel Basallo C
8. Coby Mayo 3B
9. Jeremiah Jackson 2B

Dean Kremer RHP

Guardians lineup

1. Steven Kwan CF
2. Chase DeLauter RF
3. José Ramírez 3B
4. Kyle Manzardo DH
5. George Valera LF
6. Rhys Hoskins DH
7. Daniel Schneeman 2B
8. Bo Naylor C
9. Brayan Rocchio SS

Gavin Williams RHP

Lefty? Righty? Ben Rice does not care. 

The Yankees said over the offseason that they wanted to give Rice more exposure to lefties this year, and he took full advantage of his first start in such situation on Sunday. 

The 27-year-old was right back in the lineup against tough Royals southpaw Noah Cameron, and he had no issue crushing a solo shot as part of a five-run bottom of the third. 

Rice lifted a 3-1 fastball up in the zone 398 feet to the second-deck in right, giving him homers in three straight games and a total of seven on the season. 

He grounded out in his only other at-bat against Cameron, but is now hitting an impressive .313 with a pair of homers and a 1.041 OPS against lefties on the season. 

“He’s made a lot of progress,” Aaron Boone said. “He handled his own against [lefties] last year and then some, so Benny’s just continuing to solidify himself as one of the outstanding hitters in the league no matter what hand you throw with.”

The numbers certainly show that to be true. 

Even with the homer being his lone knock in the win, Rice is hitting .339 through 42 at-bats. 

He’s racked up 13 XBH's, has driven in 17 runs, is getting on-base at a .468 clip, and is slugging .774 which adds up to a 1.224 OPS -- all of which are among the league’s best. 

Rice’s early-season prowess has him drawing praise from his teammates. 

“Ever since I saw him last spring he’s been hitting the ball hard,” Cody Bellinger said. “He’s got a really good idea of what he wants to do up there -- just a really good plan, really good approach, it’s fun to watch.”

“I don’t think I’ve seen anyone be so consistent impacting the ball the way he’s been doing so far this year,” Amed Rosario added via a translator. “It feels great to see that from him, just really great work.”

Boone plans on having Rice and Paul Goldschmidt in the lineup against lefty Cole Ragans as the Yanks look for the series sweep in Sunday’s finale.

Current 40-man roster

40-man roster transactions

• 04/18/26 Designated 1B Luken Baker for assignment.
• 04/14/26 Selected the contract of C Aramis Garcia from Reno Aces.
• 04/14/26 Transferred 1B Pavin Smith from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Left elbow inflammation.
• 04/07/26 Selected the contract of 1B Luken Baker from Reno Aces.
• 04/07/26 Transferred SS Jordan Lawlar from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Right wrist fracture.
• 04/03/26 Selected the contract of RHP Taylor Rashi from Reno Aces.
• 04/03/26 Designated RHP Joe Ross for assignment.
• 03/25/26 Selected the contract of RHP Jonathan Loáisiga from Reno Aces.
• 03/25/26 Selected the contract of 2B Ildemaro Vargas from Reno Aces.
• 03/25/26 Selected the contract of RHP Joe Ross from Reno Aces.
• 03/25/26 Placed RHP Cristian Mena on the 60-day injured list. Right shoulder strain.
• 03/25/26 Placed LHP Blake Walston on the 60-day injured list. Left UCL surgery.
• 03/25/26 Designated RHP Grant Holman for assignment.
• 02/15/26 Claimed RHP Grant Holman off waivers from Athletics.
• 02/15/26 Placed LHP A.J. Puk on the 60-day injured list. Left ulnar collateral ligament surgery recovery.
• 02/15/26 Signed free agent RHP Zac Gallen.
• 02/15/26 Signed free agent RHP Paul Sewald.
• 02/15/26 Placed RHP Corbin Burnes on the 60-day injured list. Right ulnar collateral ligament surgery recovery.
• 02/14/26 Placed RHP Justin Martinez on the 60-day injured list. Recovery from right ulnar collateral ligament surgery.
• 02/10/26 Signed free agent 1B Carlos Santana.
• 02/10/26 Placed LHP Andrew Saalfrank on the 60-day injured list. Left labrum repair surgery.
• 02/05/26 traded SS Blaze Alexander to Baltimore Orioles for RHP Kade Strowd, RHP Wellington Aracena and 2B José Mejía.
• 01/13/26 Received 3B Nolan Arenado and cash from St. Louis Cardinals for RHP Jack Martinez.
• 01/10/26 Traded CF Jake McCarthy to Colorado Rockies for RHP Josh Grosz.
• 12/19/25 Traded LHP Kyle Backhus to Philadelphia Phillies for CF Avery Owusu-Asiedu.
• 12/19/25 Signed free agent RHP Merrill Kelly.
• 12/12/25 Designated RHP Bryce Jarvis for assignment.
• 12/12/25 Signed free agent RHP Michael Soroka.
• 11/21/25 Signed C James McCann
• 11/21/25 RHP Taylor Rashi elected free agency.
• 11/21/25 LHP Tommy Henry elected free agency.
• 11/18/25 Selected the contract of RHP Dylan Ray from Reno Aces.
• 11/18/25 Selected the contract of LHP Kohl Drake from Reno Aces.
• 11/18/25 Selected the contract of SS Jose Fernandez from Amarillo Sod Poodles.
• 11/18/25 Selected the contract of LHP Mitch Bratt from Amarillo Sod Poodles.
• 11/18/25 Designated LHP Tommy Henry for assignment.
• 11/17/25 Sent RHP Christian Montes De Oca outright to Reno Aces.
• 11/06/25 INF Ildemaro Vargas elected free agency
• 11/06/25 RHP Austin Pope outrighted off 40-man roster and became a free agent
• 11/06/25 Activated from 60-day IL
• INF Pavin Smith (strained left quad; placed on Aug. 29; retro 8/28; transferred on Sept. 5)
• RHP Kevin Ginkel (sprained right shoulder; placed on Aug. 4, retro Aug. 3; transferred on Aug. 6)
• LHP Tommy Henry (left ulnar collateral ligament surgery; placed on July 6)
• RHP Justin Martinez (sprained right ulnar collateral ligament, placed on June 15)
• RHP Cristian Mena (strained right shoulder; placed on June 10)
• RHP Christian Montes De Oca (back stress fracture/right elbow inflammation; placed on June 9)
• RHP Corbin Burnes (right elbow inflammation; placed on June 7)
• LHP A.J. Puk (left elbow inflammation; placed on May 1)
• LHP Blake Walston (sprained left ulnar collateral ligament; placed on March 23)
• 11/05/25 Sent LHP Kyle Nelson outright to Reno Aces.
• 11/05/25 Sent RHP Casey Kelly outright to Reno Aces.
• 11/05/25 Sent SS Connor Kaiser outright to Reno Aces.
• 11/05/25 Sent RHP John Curtiss outright to Reno Aces.
• 11/04/25 RHP Elvin Rodríguez elected free agency.
• 11/02/25 LHP Jalen Beeks elected free agency.
• 11/02/25 RHP Zac Gallen elected free agency.
• 11/02/25 C James McCann elected free agency.

CHICAGO — If there is a baseball hell, the Mets have found it and are threatening to establish permanent residence. 

The elements of disappointment change daily, but the constant is the Mets lose. And lose. And lose. 

Saturday their futility reached double digits. They fell 4-2 to the Cubs at Wrigley Field for a 10th straight loss — one short of the club’s longest losing streak in 22 years. 

Manager Carlos Mendoza was later asked if he had a message for the team’s fans. 

“They have all the right to be pissed and frustrated,” Mendoza said. “They care, just like we do. We care here. We want to win as much as they do. There’s [only] so much I can say here, because we have got to go out and do it. I understand how they are feeling. I would be pissed, too, if I am a fan. I’m pissed. They’re pissed.” The Mets avoided the embarrassment of a day earlier, when Kodai Senga’s awful performance and sloppy defense were on display, but still played badly enough to continue their free fall. 

That meant an anemic offensive showing and a sixth-inning breakdown by Freddy Peralta and Brooks Raley. 

Peralta was rolling for a second straight start, but lost the strike zone with two outs in the sixth in a 1-1 game, walking Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki. Mendoza summoned Raley and one pitch later the game tilted: pinch hitter Carson Kelly blasted a three-run homer. The Mets never recovered. 

It marked the eighth time in the losing streak the Mets scored two runs or fewer. 

“Every game has been different,” Marcus Semien said. “We want to play better as an offense. Giving up some big homers kind of hurt us, but we’ve lost a lot of different ways. There’s no pointing a finger at anything right now.” 

Peralta allowed three earned runs on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 5 ²/₃ innings. His shortcoming was failing to record the final out in the sixth. 

“We need to keep grinding and keep competing and trying to get better and win some games,” Peralta said. 

Mark Vientos’ homer in the second gave the Mets a 1-0 lead. Vientos jumped on a four-seamer from Jameson Taillon and blasted it 434 feet to the left field bleachers for his second homer this season. Later in the inning, Semien singled and Carson Benge walked before Bo Bichette was retired to end the threat. 

Happ’s homer leading off the bottom of the inning tied it 1-1. Peralta plunked Suzuki and allowed a single to Miguel Amaya, escaping trouble by retiring Pete Crow-Armstrong and Dansby Swanson in succession. 

Luis Robert Jr. singled in the third inning and was thrown out attempting to steal second. Semien walked leading off the fifth, but the inning concluded with Bichette’s double-play grounder. MJ Melendez drew a two-out walk in the sixth before Taillon retired Alvarez. 

“I thought we had some decent at-bats, created some traffic, hit some balls hard,” Mendoza said. “But the times we had runners on base we couldn’t get that big hit. We are just having a hard time putting a rally together. 

Peralta got two quick outs in the sixth, but never concluded the inning. Happ walked before Peralta ran the count full to Suzuki and threw a slider that missed low and away. Raley replaced Peralta and Kelly crushed his first pitch over the left field wall to bury the Mets in a 4-1 hole. 

Nico Hoerner’s throwing error gave the Mets an unearned run in the eighth after Bichette and Francisco Lindor had singled in the inning. Vientos, batting with the tying runs on base and two outs, grounded out to end the threat. 

Taillon stifled the Mets, allowing one earned run on five hits and three walks over six innings. The right-hander was removed after 100 pitches. 

“We’re putting ourselves in a big hole right now,” Mendoza said. “But there is only one way to do it and that is just come back tomorrow ready to go.”

Here are the lineups. For the Phillies:

For the Braves:

Let’s talk about it.

The Mets and Cubs were in the thick of a pitcher's duel until the sixth inning, when a three-run shot from a pinch-hitting Carson Kelly gave Chicago the go-ahead hit in New York's 4-2 loss on Saturday afternoon.

Freddy Peralta and three relievers combined to allow only five Cubs hits, but two were home runs and accounted for all four Chicago runs.

The Mets have now lost 10 games in a row, the longest since 2004.

Here are the takeaways....

-The Mets' offensive explosion -- by their standards -- from Friday carried over early. Francisco Lindor hit a two-out single before Luis Robert Jr. smoked a double down the left field line to put runners on second and third. MJ Melendez, who started his Mets tenure 4-for-7, lofted a fly ball to left as the Cubs got out of the inning. 

Unlike Friday's game, the wind -- especially in left -- was coming in. A few balls hit that way died in midair, but it didn't matter to Mark Vientos. The slugger, who started at first base, smashed a 433-foot blast to give the Mets a 1-0 lead. The homer came off the bat at 110 mph. It's just the Mets' second home run in the last six games. The Mets made Cubs starter Jameson Taillon work hard in the first three innings, but the veteran right-hander settled down, getting through six innings without giving up another run.

Taillon tossed 100 pitches (61 strikes), allowing the one run on five hits, three walks and striking out four batters. 

-Peralta was on the mound and facing a team that knows him very well from his time with the Brewers. Ian Happ took him deep to tie the game at 1-1 in the second inning, but there wasn't much doing for the Cubs lineup against Peralta. However, Peralta just wasn't efficient enough to give the Mets length. 

After getting two outs in the sixth, he walked back-to-back batters and his day was done. 

Brooks Raley came on in relief and Cubs manager Craig Counsell pinch-hit Moises Ballesteros, who is having a good series, for Kelly. Kelly ambushed Raley, launching the first-pitch cutter that had way too much plate 405 feet over the wall to give the Cubs a 4-1 lead. It's the first time a pinch-hitter launched a homer on the first pitch this season. It also put a bow on Peralta's line.

The Mets ace went 5.2 innings (93 pitches/54 strikes), allowing three runs on three hits, two walks, while striking out three.

-Although the Mets lineup struggled to string together hits, they were a bit unlucky as well. Marcus Semien smashed a pitch to left field that Happ made a leaping grab near the left field wall. It was hit at 103.5 mph and would have been out in six ballparks, but the wind and where it was hit knocked it down. 

That luck turned in the eighth. After Bo Bichette picked up a single, a ball that bounced off Ben Brown, Lindor picked up his second hit of the game when Dansby Swanson mishandled the grounder. Robert hit a grounder that could have been a doubleplay, but the slow-developing play allowed Robert to reach first safely after Swanson's throw took Michael Busch off the bag. Melendez struck out, but Francisco Alvarez muscled a grounder between second and first base that Nico Hoerner stopped from going into the outfield, but his throw pulled Busch off the bag, and pushed the Mets' second run of the game, but couldn't get any more.

In the ninth, Tommy Pham, pinch-hitting for Brett Baty against the left-hander Caleb Thielbar, struck out to lead off the inning. Semien struck out and Tyrone Taylor, pinch-hitting for Carson Benge, flew out to end the game. The Mets outhit the Cubs 7-5 but were 0-for-6 with RISP and left eight runners on.

-Baty, starting in right field after a tough game defensively at first on Friday, went 0-for-2 but drew his first walk of the season.

Game MVP: Carson Kelly

Kelly's home run was the difference in this game

Highlights

That's WAY outta here!

Mark Vientos blasts his second home run of the year! pic.twitter.com/TjTDK6mtdp

— SNY (@SNYtv) April 18, 2026

Bo Bichette makes the long throw across the diamond to get Nico Hoerner pic.twitter.com/Cdb5amciq0

— SNY (@SNYtv) April 18, 2026

After review, Michael Busch came off first base on Francisco Alvarez's ground ball and a run comes home for the Mets pic.twitter.com/IB0AKcRiBN

— SNY (@SNYtv) April 18, 2026

What's next

The Mets and Cubs play the season finale of their three-game set on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 2:20 p.m.

David Peterson (0-3, 6.41 ERA) looks to bounce back as the Mets go up against Javier Assad (1-1, 8.10 ERA). 

Will Warren continues to impress early on this season, and on Saturday afternoon, the young right-hander delivered arguably his most impressive performance to this point. 

It helps that the Yankees offense broke out and spotted him a seven-run advantage through four innings, but Warren still did his job, cruising his way through the Royals’ lineup.

“It’s always nice to go out there with a lead,” Warren said. “You’re not worried about giving up one or two runs -- gave up some leadoff hits, but was able to keep my composure knowing that the boys are banging out there.”

One of those leadoff hits came on the very first pitch, as Maikel Garcia lined a double to open the game, but Warren was able to bear down and retire the next three hitters easily.

The youngster continued cruising from there, pushing the stretch to nine consecutive batters set aside before allowing a leadoff single to Bobby Witt Jr. in the top of the fourth. 

Witt was quickly erased, though, as Warren picked him off first. 

“I could see him out of the corner of my eye, hopping off the base,” he said. “I had been talking with Ben [Rice] about some stuff and we executed and got him, so I was pretty pumped.”

Warren gave up another knock leading off the fifth, but responded by striking out the next three he faced and then breezing his way through a perfect sixth. 

The lone blemish came in the seventh, as the 26-year-old gave up a single, then rookie slugger Carter Jensen jumped him for a two-run shot to right, breaking up the shutout.

Warren rolled a grounder, then finished his day matching his career-high with his 11th strikeout.

He allowed just the two runs on five hits over seven stellar frames.

“The four-seam was really playing well,” Aaron Boone said. “He got a lot of swing-and-miss, the changeup was good today too, I just think it was the overall mix -- it was good to see him take that lead and run with it, really good job.”

Warren pitched to a 2.49 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 31 strikeouts through his first five outings.

While Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón are still a few rehab outings away from making their returns, this hot start certainly bodes well for the youngster keeping his spot in the Yankees' rotation.