Good morning, Mets fans. It's a tough time to be wearing the orange and blue, as the team's struggles deepened with a ninth consecutive loss yesterday in Chicago. The 2026 season is off to a brutal start, and the search for answers continues.

The latest defeat saw Kodai Senga endure another rough outing, surrendering seven runs over just 3.1 innings. With the offense also sputtering, manager Carlos Mendoza shuffled the lineup in a bid to spark a turnaround, but the Cubs proved too much to handle.

Before the game, President of Baseball Operations David Stearns publicly backed Mendoza, emphasizing that the team's issues run deeper than the manager's office. That point was underscored by more injury news, as infielder Jorge Polanco is now managing both Achilles soreness and a new wrist issue.

Around the NL East, the news didn't get any better. The Atlanta Braves strengthened their early division lead with a commanding 9-0 win over the Phillies, whose own woes continued with Taijuan Walker's struggles. The Marlins fell in extra innings to the Brewers, plagued by defensive mistakes, while the Nationals dropped their game to the Giants.

In league-wide news, the baseball community mourns the tragic passing of former Angels star Garret Anderson at age 53. In a historic business move, the San Diego Padres are nearing a record $3.9 billion sale. On the field, Shohei Ohtani's incredible on-base streak has reached 49 games, and early Rookie of the Year favorites are beginning to emerge.

For the Mets, the focus now shifts to stopping the skid this weekend at historic Wrigley Field. They'll need to dig deep to reverse the momentum and give their loyal fans, who deserve to sport their gear with pride, something to cheer about.