Rosenthal: Mets must reach .500 before contender talk holds up

Mets' losing record clouds their playoff case.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jun 211 min read

“They’re seven games under .500 and until you get to .500, it’s difficult to take them seriously as a contender” @Ken_R Via @MLBONFOX on X

What happened: Speaking on MLB on FOX, Ken Rosenthal said the New York Mets are seven games under .500 and that until a team gets to .500, it is difficult to take it seriously as a contender. He made the point even as the Mets sit just five games out of a playoff spot.

Why it matters: At 34-41, New York is chasing a wild-card berth while carrying a losing record into a road series in Philadelphia. Rosenthal's framing sets a clear bar: the Mets have to climb back to even before their postseason case carries real weight.

By the numbers: The Mets enter at 34-41, seven games under .500, scoring 4.1 runs per game and allowing 4.3, winners of two straight. The Phillies sit 40-35 but have dropped two in a row. New York took the most recent meeting between the clubs 6-4 on June 18.

What to watch: Watch whether the Mets can keep chipping at the deficit as they visit the Phillies in Philadelphia.

Sources

@MLBONFOX 2026-06-21T00:23:50.983588+00:00

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