Mets Have MLB's Worst Record; Pitcher's ‘Suffocated' Comment Reveals Why

The New York Mets lost again on April 30, this time to the Washington Nationals. The Mets have the third-highest active payroll in MLB, per Spotrac, while the Nationals have the third lowest.

The two National League East rivals are headed in opposite directions - just not the directions most expected at the beginning of the season. New York is 10-21, the worst record in the league. Washington, in the first year of a wholesale rebuild, is 15-17.

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Luke Weaver allowed the game-winning hit in the Mets’ latest loss, a two-run home run in the eighth inning by Nats shortstop CJ Abrams.

Afterward, Weaver did more than merely take accountability for the loss. He revealed exactly why the Mets have continued to struggle, including a 3-6 homestand against three sub-.500 teams.

“I’ve been sitting here trying to think about what to even say to you guys and what you’re even going to ask,” Weaver said. “At the end of the day, this pursuit of perfection is an ultimate pressurized failure mindset.”

“Everybody wants to be the hero because we care and we want to win really, really bad. I just don’t think success lives in that realm. It truly doesn’t. The freedom with which we play day-to-day is kind of being suffocated a little bit.”

Weaver is 2-1 with a 6.00 ERA after going 4-4 with a 3.62 ERA a year ago. And he isn’t even the Mets’ biggest problem.

The Mets began the day with baseball’s second-worst offense, averaging 3.40 runs per game.

Bo Bichette (71 wRC+), Marcus Semien (63), Brett Baty (58), Carson Benge (59), Jorge Polanco (53), Tyrone Taylor (66), Mark Vientos (82) and backup catcher Luis Torrens (42) are all producing at a below-average clip. Injuries to Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor and Luis Robert Jr. haven’t helped.

Certainly, Weaver’s comments help explain why the Mets’ problems aren’t isolated to any one player. It also puts pressure on manager Carlos Mendoza, who ostensibly bears responsibility for the team’s ability to focus amid mounting pressure.

“Not good enough,” he said of the team’s homestand. “Obviously not a secret. That's not going to do it. We got to start winning series. Period.”

Mendoza’s job might just depend on it.

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This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 4:44 PM.