We have seen many historic collapses like the 2011 Boston Red Sox, when they famously blew up a 9-game lead in September to miss the playoffs completely. Although not as dramatic, the New York Mets are experiencing a similar season this year. The Mets, who masqueraded as the best team in MLB (45-24) from Opening Day through June 12, have since been one of the worst, having stumbled to 17 games below .500. And the only saving grace of their season so far seems to be Juan Soto, who funnily enough was being booed my the Mets fans in May when the team was doing well.

Tim Britton of The Athletic wrote that Juan Soto is undoubtedly the MVP for the Mets this season. In May, while the team was performing as well as any other one in baseball, Soto was getting booed for the worst slump of his career… In September, while the Mets are collapsing… Soto is getting “M-V-P!” cheers… There are a lot of ways to divvy up the blame for the Mets’ plummet… but Soto isn’t part of it.”

The air at Citi Field feels electric and suffocating all at once, every fan’s heartbeat synced to Juan Soto’s bat. With 42 home runs, 35 stolen bases, and 123 walks, Soto has joined Shohei Ohtani in a stratosphere of historic MLB performance. He’s only the second player ever to post 40 homers, 35 steals, and 100 walks in a single season, behind Barry Bonds in 1996-97. Each swing, each stolen base, becomes a pulse-quickening thrill, a rare joy amid the chaos surrounding the Mets.

Yet the Mets themselves are a team haunted by their own unraveling, the scoreboard a merciless mirror of past collapses. The Mets had a record of 45-24 at one point and are now at 80-76. And what makes it worse is that they are tied with the Reds for the Wild Card spot. Since the start of June, the team has been 18 games under .500, and their failing bullpen and defensive errors have made watching this team torture. Even with Soto putting up MVP numbers, this season is on the edge of a collapse.

With just six games remaining against the Cubs and Marlins, the mood in Queens is tight and hot. The D-Backs are just a game behind with a 79-77 record, and the Reds hold the tiebreaker. This means that even one loss and the season goes up in flames. So, every at-bat, stolen base, and defensive shift is now high-stakes theater, a desperate audition for October glory.

If the New York Mets fumble these final six games, even Juan Soto’s historic heroics won’t save them from infamy. Queens’ faithful will remember 2025 not for Ohtani-like brilliance, but for a meltdown worthy of a cautionary tale. Soto has written a chapter of greatness; the rest of the team now faces a final exam in embarrassment. Baseball is cruel, and in New York, it prefers irony served with a side of heartbreak. The only question remaining: can the Mets finally match their superstar, or will history have the last laugh?

With just 6 games left, here are the things the Mets need to keep in mind

As the Mets enter the final six games of the regular season, their pitching rotation feels like a house of cards teetering on a gust of wind. David Peterson starts against the Cubs despite allowing 21 earned runs in four starts, his ERA soaring to 3.98. Beyond Peterson, the rotation remains fluid, with Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat likely following, and Nolan McLean slated for the Miami opener. Manager Carlos Mendoza faces the unenviable task of squeezing optimal matchups from a staff showing cracks under pressure.

Defensively, the Mets have transformed Citi Field into a carnival of errors, leaving fans wincing at every miscue. Francisco Lindor’s throwing mistake allowed a Nationals run to score, Pete Alonso’s error compounded the damage, and Juan Soto contributed to the chaos over the weekend. Five errors across three games not only cost runs but also morale, highlighting glaring holes in fundamental execution. The defensive inconsistency has fans holding their breath, praying that these miscues don’t decide their postseason fate.

Into this chaos steps Tyrone Taylor, returning from a right hamstring strain with a chance to stabilize center field. The position has been a rotating carousel, with Jose Siri hitting just 1-for-12 and Cedric Mullins struggling over the last three series. Taylor was 10-21 with 6 RBIs pre-injury, and his return will give the team some stability both offensively and defensively. Mets fans, battered by losses and errors, now pin cautious hope on Taylor’s return to right the ship.

If the Mets are going to sneak into the postseason, every pitch, catch, and swing must suddenly resemble precision work. David Peterson must rediscover his form, the infielders need to remember how gloves work, and Tyrone Taylor has to deliver the defensive stability fans have been dreaming of. Citi Field has turned into a horror scene, but there is still a ray of hope through all the darkness. In a season full of chaos, the Mets need to pull a rabbit out of the hat or at least a few wins.