Mets Struggle Against Lefties Despite Surprising Success

With the Mets set to host the Phillies in a crucial series starting on August 25th, 2025, the team faces a peculiar challenge - their struggles against left-handed pitching have not translated to a poor record against lefty starters.

In fact, the Mets' 19-17 record against left-handed starters is the second-best in the National League. This is despite the team scoring nearly half a run less per game against lefties compared to right-handers. The Mets' right-handed and switch hitters have performed well below their career norms against southpaws.

However, the Mets' Achilles' heel has been their inability to handle the bottom of opposing lineups. They rank 25th in the league against No. 9 hitters, just as they do against No. 7 hitters, and one spot ahead of their rank against No. 6 hitters. This has mitigated the team's remarkable success against the middle of the order.

The Mets' postseason hopes may hinge on their ability to navigate opposing lineups more effectively, as they failed to do in last year's NLCS against the Dodgers. With the Phillies likely to start multiple left-handers in a potential wild-card series, the Mets will need to find a way to solve their left-handed pitching woes while also shoring up their weaknesses against the bottom of the order.