The Mets’ offensive struggles at Citi Field continued Saturday against Atlanta

The feeling around the 2024 New York Mets was that the lineup would be their strong suit, with pitching being more of a question mark. When J.D. Martinez was signed at the end of March, this conviction was further strengthened. But it didn’t quite pan out that way, as the team’s offensive production ebbed and flowed over the course of 38 games. The Mets have gone through stretches where their big bats produced in key moments. Likewise, the lineup has gone through periods where most at-bats are uncompetitive. The latter was highlighted this weekend, as the Mets lost a second straight game to the Atlanta Braves on Saturday, falling 4-1.

Braves starter Max Frit put up one of his best performances in recent memory, pitching seven hitless innings. The Mets were only able to draw three walks against the left-handed starter, without putting him under any stress. The results didn’t improve once Atlanta went to the bullpen, as the home team entered the bottom of the ninth with three outs before going hitless. The Mets were down to their last out when Martinez walked away Raisel Iglesias, making it a 4-1 match. That would be how it would end, with the Mets down 18-20.

“You don’t want to go without a hit. This is something every team tries to avoid every game. But the thing was, I felt like we had good hitters throughout the game. » Brandon Nimmo said after the match.

The Mets score 4.32 runs per game, which ranks 16th in all of baseball. That might seem okay on the surface, but their lack of run support at Citi Field is certainly alarming. The Mets score just 3.38 runs per game at home, which ranks them 26th. Ironically, they score 5.47 points per game on the road, with the Texas Rangers (5.50 points per game) being the only team ahead of them in that area.

There is no denying that the Mets have the individuals in place to produce at a higher rate offensively. In 2022, the team ranked fifth in baseball with 4.73 runs per game. Many of those same names are still on the team, so it’s possible they can replicate most of what they did two seasons ago. The Mets own a 3.74 ERA as a team, which ranks them 11th in the league. The pitching staff carries his weight, more than some would have imagined. Now it’s time for the Mets offense to find some rhythm, especially at home.