Mets’ Messy Start Has Club Sharing Basement of National League East

Prior to Tuesday’s game with Washington, the New York Mets have lost 17 of 23 games. They also experienced a 12-game losing streak.

Luis Robert Jr. (88) of the New York Mets walks back to the dugout after striking out during the eighth inning of game one of a doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field in the Queens borough of New York City on April 26, 2026. Heather Khalifa/Getty Images

Why are the New York Mets floundering?

Among all 30 MLB clubs for the 2026 season, per USA Today’s rankings of team payrolls listed in March, the Mets are the top spenders (yes, including the Los Angeles Dodgers) at $357,626,125. Beginning on Tuesday, the Washington Nationals will be in the Queens borough of NYC for a three-game series at Citi Field with the Mets. Washington has the 27th payroll this season at $87,955,033, and they don’t have one player on their 40-man roster earning $10 million. Their top earner is at $7 million.