Inside the Numbers on Mets’ 12-Game Losing Streak

The New York Mets’ 12-game losing streak reached a painful milestone on April 21, 2026, as they fell 5-3 to the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field, matching the franchise’s longest skid since 2002 and inching closer to the all-time record of 17 set in 1962. Despite early promise from Francisco Lindor’s three-run home run and Nolan McLean’s dominant start, the Mets blew a lead and saw their losing streak extend to a dozen games.

How the Streak Reached 12 Games

The Mets entered the game with an 11-game losing streak, the longest for the franchise since 2002. Francisco Lindor gave New York an early 3-0 lead with a three-run homer in the bottom of the third inning. Starting pitcher Nolan McLean retired the first 15 batters he faced, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning before Matt Wallner broke it up with a leadoff single.

McLean settled for two more outs before Byron Buxton’s two-run homer in the sixth cut the Mets’ lead to 3-2. The game remained tied at 3-3 after Luke Keaschall’s RBI single in the top of the seventh inning tied the score.

The turning point came in the top of the ninth inning when reliever Devin Williams, who had struggled in his previous two outings, walked in the go-ahead run. The Twins added an insurance run later in the frame to make it 5-3, securing the Mets’ 12th consecutive loss.

Historical Context of the Losing Streak

This 12-game skid ties the franchise’s longest losing streak since 2002 and puts the Mets within five games of the all-time club record of 17 consecutive losses set in 1962. As of the loss to the Twins, the Mets held the worst record in Major League Baseball at 7-16.

Historically, no team has ever reached the playoffs after dropping 12 consecutive games, underscoring the severity of the Mets’ current situation. Manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged the difficulty of the situation while expressing continued belief in his players.

Key Performances Amid the Struggle

Despite the team-wide struggles, individual performances offered glimpses of promise:

• Francisco Lindor’s three-run home run provided early offense and highlighted his continued production.
• Nolan McLean’s six-inning start, featuring a no-hitter through 5.1 innings, showed his potential as a young starter.
• Devin Williams, despite the ninth-inning struggle, has been a key reliever for the Mets earlier in the season.

Looking Ahead

The Mets’ losing streak now stands at 12 games as they seek to avoid matching the franchise’s all-time worst stretch. With the team sitting at 7-16, the focus shifts to breaking the cycle and avoiding further damage to what has become a historically poor start to the 2026 season.