The New York Mets have lost 17 games in April heading into a three-game series with the Washington Nationals and manager Carlos Mendoza is on the hot seat.
The New York Mets welcome the Washington Nationals to Citi Field for a three-game series after the Colorado Rockies swept the club over the weekend.
After the Mets lost 12 consecutive games and got back in the win column twice against the Minnesota Twins, the Rockies came to town and took care of business in all three games to begin a new losing streak for New York.
Although it’s early, most teams that fail as badly as the Mets have through April would fire its manager to get a different voice in there and lead the team in a different direction.
The Boston Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora, the third-most winningest manager in Red Sox history, and his entire staff after starting 10-17. The Philadelphia Phillies just fired manager Rob Thomson, who owns the highest winning percentage in Phillies managerial history, after a 9-19 start (the same record as the Mets).
Although Mendoza has been backed by the front office and the players are fighting for him, it just doesn’t seem like the Mets can get itself out of this situation without moving on from the manager. Somebody has to pay the price for the team’s horrendous start and it’s not going to be any of the players or general manager David Stearns.
If the Nationals win the series, or better yet, sweep the Mets, there’s no way Mendoza survives the week. Although he has made some questionable decisions this season, at the end of the day, he can’t play for his players. The offense has been a disaster, thanks to Stearns wanting to ship out his best offensive players for declining ones, and the bullpen has been atrocious.
The starting rotation has been good outside of Kodai Senga and David Peterson, and it could be Mendoza’s saving grace. Right-hander Clay Holmes will take on Nationals righty Zack Littell in the opener.
Holmes has been outstanding for New York since transitioning into a starter last year. In 2026, Holmes is 2-2 with a 2.10 ERA and 1.08 WHIP through five starts (30 innings), with the Mets winning his last start against the Twins. Holmes threw seven two-run innings and allowed five hits and one walk while striking out three.
Littell was a late offseason addition by the Nationals, and he hasn’t done well with his new team, sporting an 0-3 record with a 7.56 ERA and 1.68 WHIP through five appearances (four starts). Why has it gone so poorly for Littell? Home runs – Littell has allowed the most homers (11) in Major League Baseball this season and has a home run percentage of 9.4 in just 25 innings of work thus far.
First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. EDT on MLB.TV and regional sports networks.