CHICAGO — Now the Mets aren’t doing anything right.
A losing streak, defined much of past week by the team’s hitting woes, has turned into overall stinky play. The Mets seemingly are getting worse.
On Friday, Kodai Senga imploded, the defense leaked and the lineup was inefficient in an embarrassing 12-4 loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field that gave the Mets a nine-game losing streak. The skid is the club’s longest since 2004 when they lost 11 straight.
It was a second straight loss in which the Mets surrendered at least eight runs. The clunker followed president of baseball operations David Stearns’ pregame backing of manager Carlos Mendoza.
“I think Mendy is doing a really good job,” Stearns said before the first pitch. “He’s putting our players in a position to succeed. He’s enormously consistent.”
Following another brutal team performance, Mendoza searched for answers.
“We have got to be able to put a consistent game here where we’re clicking our best, with starters, playing defense, offensively, that has got to start,” Mendoza said.
Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga (34) leaves the mound after a pitching change during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Friday, April 17, 2026, in Chicago. AP
In a second straight ugly performance, Senga allowed seven runs, six earned, on six hits and three walks over 3 ¹/₃ innings. The right-hander was buried by two homers allowed. The Mets trailed 4-0 and 6-3 after the first and second innings, respectively.
“Today [was] a new day and I wanted to get the team on the right foot,” Senga said through his interpreter, referring to the losing streak. “But giving up not just one run, but multiple runs in the early innings certainly doesn’t put the team in a groove. That’s the one thing I didn’t want to do and unfortunately that happened.”
Mendoza said it was too early to say if a change in the rotation is forthcoming.
Brett Baty misplayed two grounders at first base — only one of which was ruled an error — leading the defensive meltdown and giving the Cubs an unearned run in the fourth.
The Mets had 14 hits, but only three went for extra bases.
“It’s a tough spot, for sure,” Baty said. “I think it just goes back to just keep putting our head down and keep working hard. It’s a long season, so you have just got to keep going.”
Nico Hoerner of the Chicago Cubs tags out Tyrone Taylor of the New York Mets attempts to reach second base during the second inning at Wrigley Field on April 17, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images
Moises Ballesteros’ opposite-field shot to left in the first inning inflicted much of the damage against Senga. The three-run homer gave the Cubs a 4-0 lead in an inning that Chicago sent seven batters to the plate.
Michael Busch walked and Alex Bregman singled before Seiya Suzuki’s single brought in the game’s first run. Ballesteros followed by jumping on Senga’s first-pitch cutter and clearing the ivy in left.
The Mets broke out for three runs — matching their total over the previous four games — in the second inning. Marcus Semien stroked an RBI double following consecutive singles by Francisco Alvarez and MJ Melendez. After Baty struck out, Tyrone Taylor hit a shot off the left field wall for a two-run single, on which he was thrown out trying to reach second following a fast carom to center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.
Senga surrendered a two-run homer to Nico Hoerner in the bottom of the inning that increased the Mets’ deficit to 6-3. Senga walked Dansby Swanson before Hoerner blasted a 1-1 four-seamer over the left field wall.
“I’m not getting ahead, not getting first-pitch strikes, getting to hitters’ counts,” Senga said. “It’s obviously not a good sign, but at the same time I am not all that far off.”
Carlos Mendoza stands stands in the dugout during the first inning. AP
Baty’s rough inning at first base in the fourth allowed the Cubs to score an earned run and extend their lead to 7-3. First, Baty couldn’t handle Busch’s grounder that went for a single and loaded the bases. Ian Happ’s more routine grounder to Baty that should have ended the inning was booted for an error, yielding the run.
“I have got to make both [plays] — it’s as simple as that,” said Baty, who began playing first base in spring training. “I feel like I make those plays 10 times out of 10. I have to make them. I don’t care that the first one was a hit. It was a play that should be made.”
Matt Shaw smashed an RBI double against Sean Manaea in the seventh that extended the Cubs’ lead to 8-3. Suzuki’s double started the rally.
The Cubs scored twice against Manaea in the seventh. In the eighth, Happ blasted the Cubs’ third homer of the game — a two-run shot that widened the deficit to 12-4.
