The New York Mets suffered a 4-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field on Thursday, extending their slump in dramatic fashion. Once the hottest team in the National League, the Mets have now dropped nine of their last 10 games—a skid that has erased their once-comfortable advantage in the standings.
Their latest defeat leaves them clinging to a half-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds for the final NL Wild Card spot. For a team that appeared destined for a deep postseason run just weeks ago, the sudden decline has brought their season to a precarious tipping point.