Bottom half of Mets' lineup continues to plague offense

The Mets continue to get minimal production from the lineup beyond their top four hitters.

Jun 23, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) reacts after striking out with the bases loaded in the eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The New York Mets' offensive struggles continued Monday night, as they dropped their ninth game in the last ten, losing 3–2 to the Atlanta Braves to open a four-game series.

The Mets struggled early once again to score against Braves starter Spencer Schwellenbach — a trend that’s become all too familiar in his outings against New York.

After falling behind 3–0 and showing little life through the first five innings, the Mets appeared to gain some momentum when Juan Soto crushed a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth. But as has been the case during their recent skid, production beyond the top of the order was nowhere to be found.

Outside of Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, and Soto, the Mets’ 4-through-8 hitters went a combined 0-for-18. The lone bright spot came from Brett Baty in the nine-hole, who collected two hits and was the only member of the bottom half to reach base.

Plenty of blame to go around for the Mets' offense, as they've lost 9 of 10, but it's gotten bad enough that Mendoza felt compelled to admit they're getting nothing from lower part of the lineup. Baty had 2 singles in 9 hole but 4-8, starting with Alonso, went 0-for-18.

— John Harper (@NYNJHarper) June 24, 2025

Read More: Young Mets core offensively silent during team's rough patch

The Mets’ lack of production from the bottom of the lineup has become impossible to ignore. It’s an issue that can no longer be overlooked or swept under the rug.

When asked about the team’s ongoing struggles, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza didn’t hesitate to acknowledge the problem, bluntly admitting that the bottom of the order simply hasn’t been doing its job.

"We're obviously not creating enough traffic. And I feel like the reality is, once it gets to the bottom of the lineup, we're having a hard time creating opportunities. We're relying pretty much on the top four, five guys. Those guys at the bottom are not able to get on base — that's why we're having a hard time scoring runs right now," Mendoza said.

"It feels like during this stretch, we're getting down early in games and then the at-bats are pretty much completely different"

Carlos Mendoza talks about what he's seeing from the Mets' offense during their recent struggles: pic.twitter.com/Bw7vM9fxTC

— SNY (@SNYtv) June 24, 2025

The Mets are in desperate need of someone to step up at the bottom of their lineup. With key players Jesse Winker and Mark Vientos sidelined by injury, the team has lacked the depth necessary to support their offense. Players like Jared Young, Ronny Mauricio, and Tyrone Taylor have struggled to deliver consistent production.

While there is some optimism with Mark Vientos expected to return soon, it’s worth noting that he too faced challenges earlier this season.

If the Mets can’t find a reliable contributor internally, they may have to look outside the organization to bolster their lineup and provide more opportunities for the stars at the top.