Overview
- The Mets, who lost 5-3 on Tuesday at Citi Field, squandered rookie Nolan McLean’s gem when closer Devin Williams walked three without an out in the ninth and Minnesota’s Luke Keaschall delivered the go-ahead single.
- McLean retired the first 15 batters and struck out 10 over 6.2 innings with no walks, but a Byron Buxton two-run homer in the sixth and a tying single in the seventh erased a 3-0 lead built by Francisco Lindor’s three-run shot.
- New York owns MLB’s worst record at 7-16, with six losses during the skid coming after holding a lead and a bullpen thin enough that coaches pushed McLean deeper into the start, according to postgame explanations.
- The offense has cratered during the slide, averaging 1.83 runs per game and going hitless over the final five innings Tuesday, with two or fewer runs in nine of the 12 losses, per ESPN’s tracking.
- Help is slated to arrive as Juan Soto is expected to return Wednesday, with reports that Christian Scott will be called up to start Thursday and Kodai Senga’s turn will be pushed to Saturday, while history looms with no team overcoming a 12-game losing streak to reach the postseason.