3 September NY Mets losses that look even worse after missing out on a playoff spot

The 2025 New York Mets will not be in the Postseason this year. Multiple cold streaks throughout the second half of the season, including a brutal eight-game losing streak in September, capped off one of the most infuriating seasons in recent memory. This was a team that was well within a Wild Card spot and just a half game out of the division as late as August 1. The Mets ended up tied with the Cincinnati Reds for the final Wild Card spot, but since the Reds took the season series, they get the advantage in the tiebreaker. There are many losses we'll look back on as sore spots and opportunities that weren't taken advantage of, but these three from September hurt the most in retrospect.

1) September 7

With how narrow the final NL Wild Card spot was, any loss the Mets took against the Reds this year would be looked at with fine scrutiny. However, their loss on September 7 was arguably the worst of the six games, and the four losses the Mets took when they went up against the Reds.

The Mets struck first, taking a one-run lead in the third inning off a Brett Baty home run. But the lead would not last for long, as Brandon Sproat relinquished a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. It was a tough luck run scored, as Sproat walked Noelvi Marte, advanced on a ground ball to Pete Alonso, then scored on a sacrifice fly from Austin Hays.

The sixth inning was when things began to unravel. Marte continued to be a thorn in the Mets' side with a one-out single. The next batter, Elly De La Cruz, then drove him in on a double and advanced to third base on the throw to home plate. The Reds scored their third and final run of the game when Hays brought in another run on a single.

The Mets got dominated by Hunter Greene, who pitched seven innings, allowing just the single run, and striking out a dozen Mets batters. But the Mets weren't done yet. Juan Soto hit a one-out solo home run off of Tony Santillan in the bottom of the ninth inning. Then, De La Cruz made an error on an Alonso batted ball. Brandon Nimmo continued the rally with a single, moving pinch runner Luisangel Acuna to second base. But the Mets' rally came to a halt when Starling Marte grounded into a double play. While the Mets reviewed the play, the call was confirmed, sealing the victory for the Reds.

Losing in this fashion is even more heartbreaking in retrospect. Had the Mets won this game, they would have taken the final Wild Card spot over the Reds at the end of the year. When it comes down to a tiebreaker, a game like this will be remembered, but for all the wrong reasons.