The New York Mets' early-season struggles deepened Tuesday night in a classic pitcher's duel, falling 2-1 to the Los Angeles Dodgers for their seventh consecutive loss. The defeat, which saw the Mets muster just one run total over their last three games, drops them to 7-11 and into the cellar of the NL East.

For a fanbase still reeling from a historic second-half collapse in 2025, this start is a painful echo. Owner Steve Cohen took to social media after the game, acknowledging the frustration while pointing to positive signs. "Nobody likes to lose but I saw some 'green shoots tonight,'" Cohen wrote, highlighting Francisco Lindor's homer, Bo Bichette's opposite-field double, and a strong seven-inning start from Nolan McLean against Yoshinobu Yamamoto. His message to the Citi Field faithful was simple: "Hang in there fans, we will turn this around!"

Turning it around, however, will require solving some glaring issues. The core infield of Lindor, Bichette, Marcus Semien, and Mark Vientos has combined for a meager .208 batting average, while promising rookie Carson Benge has yet to find his footing. The rotation, outside of McLean's effort, has also been shaky.

The most significant void, though, is in the heart of the order. The Mets are sorely missing Juan Soto, one of baseball's most feared hitters, who is on the injured list with a calf strain after a torrid start to his 2026 campaign. His return to the lineup could be the spark needed to jumpstart a dormant offense and begin climbing out of this early hole.