The Recent York Mets lost their 10th straight game on April 18, 2026, falling 4-2 to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field and matching their longest April losing streak in franchise history.
The defeat came after a strong start by Mark Vientos, whose second home run of the season gave New York a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Marcus Semien followed with a single and Carson Benge drew a walk, but Bo Bichette was retired to conclude the threat. Ian Happ tied the game with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the inning.
Freddy Peralta, making his second consecutive start, held the Cubs to one run over 5 ⅔ innings with three strikeouts but lost command in the sixth. With two outs and the game tied 1-1, he walked Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki, prompting manager Carlos Mendoza to turn to Brooks Raley.
Raley’s first pitch, a cutter, was deposited into the left-field bleachers by pinch hitter Carson Kelly for a three-run home run. The Mets never recovered, extending their streak of games with two runs or fewer to eight during the skid.
Peralta allowed three earned runs on three hits and two walks, while Raley took the loss. Mendoza acknowledged the frustration, saying fans have every right to be pissed and that he shares their disappointment.
Marcus Semien noted the team has lost in various ways, refusing to blame any single factor. The Mets have scored just 18 runs over the 10-game stretch, their lowest output over such a span since June 2018.
Despite the slump, Mendoza said the team must keep grinding, emphasizing they have 5½ months left to turn things around. He added that while no single issue explains the losses, the inability to play a complete game — whether due to offense, pitching, or execution — has been recurring.
The front office, led by president of baseball operations David Stearns, expressed confidence in Mendoza’s job security for now, citing his third-year progress and player placement. Stearns noted, however, that continued losses could change that assessment.
The Mets are banking on the return of injured All-Star Juan Soto from a calf injury and Jorge Polanco from a wrist issue to bolster the lineup. Until then, others will need to step up after a winter overhaul that brought optimism but has yet to yield consistent results.
Only three teams in the divisional era since 1969 have made the postseason after a double-digit losing streak, including last year’s Cleveland Guardians. Mendoza said the team still has the opportunity to write its own story, even as sympathy remains scarce.
Semien urged a forward-looking mindset, saying there’s no time to dwell on losses and that showing up with a good attitude each day is the simplest path forward.
How close are the Mets to matching their worst losing streak in over two decades?
The Mets are one loss away from matching their longest losing streak in 22 years, which would require an 11th consecutive defeat.
What is the main reason the Mets cite for their inability to win games during the streak?
The Mets say they cannot point to any single cause, noting they have lost in a variety of ways and struggled to put together complete games consistently.