3 Mets red flags in Sunday’s loss that need correcting to make the playoffs

2) The Mets offense went into a familiar malaise on Sunday

The Mets had 9 hits and drew 4 walks. McNeil was even hit by a pitch. They kept the bases crowded early on but failed to capitalize. Hitters would finish the day 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position. A total of 9 runners were left on base.

This narrative about the Mets struggling with runners in scoring position isn’t going away anytime soon. The problem in this game came down to the type of hits they had. All but the Brandon Nimmo solo home run were singles. They had three double plays turned against them, only one on the ground.

As messy as the Marlins were on the bases, they excelled in other areas. They were 2 for 5 with runners in scoring position and left only 6 runners on base. Their hitters struck out 7 times versus the 12 for the Mets lineup. They put the ball in play and with only a triple going for extra base hits, managed to come away with the victory because the Mets had one far bigger problem than offensive ineptitude or questionable managerial decisions.

The real reason the Mets weren’t able to complete the sweep is because the well-rested bullpen couldn’t throw strikes.