Mets Fight Late-Season Collapse for Wild-Card Lead

The 2025 New York Mets are facing a challenging playoff race marked by a significant midseason decline after holding the best record in baseball in June. Their pitching rotation has been severely impacted by injuries and reliance on inexperienced rookies, leading to an eight-game losing streak and an alarming increase in team ERA to nearly 6.00 in September. Discussions among former players and alumni, including Carlos Beltrán and Willie Randolph, highlight parallels to the infamous 2007 Mets collapse, emphasizing the mental and emotional toll on the team as they strive to reverse their fortunes. Despite the struggles at the major league level, there are bright spots in the minor leagues, such as Kodai Senga's quality start for Syracuse, which offers some hope for future contributions. The Mets' management is reportedly considering offseason moves, including pursuing pitcher Zac Gallen, who has demonstrated effectiveness in New York ballparks and could bolster the rotation. The current Mets squad is battling to avoid a slow erosion into another late-season collapse reminiscent of their past, with internal frustration noted but a collective push to improve results remaining.