Mets' losing streak hits 9 games with loss to Cubs
Mets' losing streak hits 9 games with loss to Cubs
Kari AndersonFri, April 17, 2026 at 9:24 PM UTC
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The New York Mets’ struggles are starting to be concerning, as the team lost its ninth straight Friday, falling 12-4 to the Chicago Cubs. The loss drops New York to 7-13 on the season.
It’s the Mets’ longest losing streak since 2004, when they dropped 11 straight on the way to a 71-91 finish. The Mets have the most expensive roster in baseball, with a $352 million payroll.
Chicago pulled ahead early on Friday, going up 4-0 in the first inning when designated hitter Moisés Ballesteros sent a three-run homer into the netting.
Although the Mets pulled back to within 4-3 in the second inning, the Cubs kept tacking on. Chicago then iced the win with an Ian Happ two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth for the final outcome.
As a cherry on top, the Cubs closed out the game with a double play in the top of the ninth.
The nine-game losing streak surpasses the team’s most recent skids: The Mets went on an eight-game losing streak in 2018 and another in September 2025. New York’s longest losing streak ever is 17 games, set in 1961.
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The Mets came into this season with high expectations because of their expensive roster. After a series of trades and free-agency losses, New York picked up multiple high-level acquisitions to build a new-look roster.
The Mets’ season started relatively well but took a turn last week. Their streak began with two losses to the Arizona Diamondbacks before they were swept by the Athletics and Dodgers and lost the series opener to the Cubs.
Part of the team’s struggles stem from the absence of Juan Soto, who has missed 11 games due to a calf injury. Soto’s league-leading $61.9 million salary this season is a big contributor to the Mets’ hefty payroll.
In response, Mets owner Steve Cohen has taken to social media to try to reassure fans.
“Nobody likes to lose but I saw some ‘green shoots tonight,’” Cohen wrote in a post on X on Tuesday. “Hang in there fans, we will turn this around!”
New York will have two more games against the Cubs before returning home for a series against the Minnesota Twins.
Source: “AOL Sports”
