Mets Lose Consecutive Games to Padres Amid Soto Injury, Offense Struggles

The New York Mets have struggled offensively in recent games, suffering consecutive losses to the San Diego Padres with scores of 7-1 and 5-0. Key offensive players, including Juan Soto, Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Lindor, and Pete Alonso, have been underperforming, with Soto leaving Tuesday's game due to a foot contusion. Despite Sean Manaea's strong pitching performance limiting the Padres to one run over five innings on Tuesday, the Mets' bullpen faltered, allowing multiple runs and contributing to the defeat. Mets starter Clay Holmes also struggled in Wednesday’s game, allowing four runs over 3.2 innings before being relieved by a more effective bullpen. The Mets' offense managed only a few hits, with no significant production from their top hitters, and the team is now facing pressure as their NL East lead narrows. The Mets hope to rebound in the series finale against the Padres to avoid a sweep, but the recent slump highlights concerns about their offensive consistency and bullpen reliability.