Part 3/12:
The Mets started the season with sky-high expectations, perched at a stellar 45-24 record on June 12th, with the best team ERA in the majors at 2.79 and the best overall record. Fast forward to now, and their form has plummeted: they’ve gone 35-53 since then, tying with the Chicago White Sox for the fourth-worst record in baseball. Their starting rotation, once their strength, has cratered into the bottom five in ERA, and the team’s overall collapse has been gradual—over three months rather than a sudden meltdown.