New York Mets eliminated from MLB postseason contention

The New York Mets have been mathematically eliminated from postseason contention for the second consecutive season. Following a 2-1 defeat against the Baltimore Orioles, the team holds a 69-81 record. Even if the Mets win their remaining 12 games, they cannot surpass the San Diego Padres for the final NL Wild Card spot.

Despite entering the 2026 season with one of the largest payrolls in baseball—second only to the Los Angeles Dodgers—the Mets struggled following a 9-19 start. The roster features high-profile players including Juan Soto, who holds a record $765 million contract, and Francisco Lindor. While the team showed signs of improvement during an 11-4 run in August and saw promising performances from younger players like Nolan McLean and Christian Scott, the early deficit proved insurmountable.

Fan reaction has been critical of the team's management and ownership, specifically targeting the effectiveness of the $400 million payroll and the leadership of President of Baseball Operations David Stearns.