This is no way for a team with serious playoff aspirations to live. 

The Mets have spent most of the season scuffling for runs, but not to the degree — aside from a Mardi Gras celebration of sorts on Saturday, with seven homers — they have displayed over the past 1 ½ weeks. 

Anybody home? 

Monday night was another exercise in futility for the Mets, who barely created a stir in a 3-2 loss to the Braves at Citi Field. 

It was a ninth loss in 10 games for the Mets and their fourth straight against the Braves over the past eight days.

Ronald Acuña Jr. celebrates after hitting a home run during the Braves-Mets game on June 23, 2025. Robert Sabo for NY Post

In their nine losses since the calendar turned to — gasp, Friday the 13th — the Mets have scored two runs or fewer six times. 

“As a team we are all trying to come through in big situations … but it ain’t happening right now,” Juan Soto said. 

Spencer Schwellenbach handled the Mets in a second straight start, firing seven strong innings in which Soto’s two-run homer served as the only damage inflicted. 

Ronald Acuña Jr. celebrates after hitting a home run during the Braves-Mets game on June 23, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Soto had another chance in the eighth, with the potential tying and go-ahead runs at third and first base, but struck out on a full-count slider from lefty reliever Dylan Lee to complete an eight-pitch plate appearance.

Lee retired the Mets in order in the ninth. 

Brett Baty singled twice from the No. 9 hole, but Tyrone Taylor, Jared Young and Luis Torrens ahead of him were a combined 0-for-10.

Juan Soto reacts after striking out during the Mets-Braves game on June 23, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

It’s been a constant struggle for the Mets from those spots in the lineup, regardless of the names inserted. 

“The reality is once the bottom of the lineup [is batting] we have a hard time creating opportunities,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “We’re pretty much the top four or five guys and then if those guys at the bottom are not able to get on base, that is why we are having a hard time scoring runs right now.” 

Mendoza said the Mets falling behind early in games hasn’t helped the lineup. 

“Then the at-bats are completely different, whether you are spending a lot of time on defense and you want to give your starter a little bit of a break and then they are getting ahead of you,” Mendoza said. “Then we are not creating enough traffic.” 

Paul Blackburn, in his third start of the season, allowed three earned runs on six hits and three walks with five strikeouts over 4 ²/₃ innings.

It was the second straight start in which Blackburn failed to complete five innings.

Spencer Schwellenbach pitches during the Braves-Mets game on June 23, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

And it was a second straight outing by a Mets starter that went short: David Peterson lasted only four innings a night earlier. 

Blackburn drilled Ozzie Albies leading off the second, helping the Braves score their first run.

Albies stole second and reached third on Sean Murphy’s single before Michael Harris II hit a sacrifice fly. 

Ronald Acuña Jr. led off the second with a homer to center field, extending the Braves lead. The homer was the second allowed by Blackburn this season.

The Mets deficit extended to 3-0 on Murphy’s sacrifice fly after Matt Olson doubled and reached third on a wild pitch. 

Baty and Francisco Lindor each delivered a two-out single in the third, but both were left stranded as Schwellenbach retired Brandon Nimmo. 

Paul Blackburn pitches during the Mets-Braves game on June 23, 2025. Robert Sabo for NY Post

Soto’s third homer in three games pulled the Mets to within 3-2 in the sixth. After Nimmo walked with two outs, Soto blasted a 1-1 sinker over the fence in left-center for his 17th homer this season — one behind Pete Alonso for the team lead.

Soto hit two of the Mets’ seven homers on Saturday in Philadelphia.

Baty singled leading off the frame, but Lindor’s ensuing grounder to first turned into a 3-6 double play before Nimmo’s walk reignited the inning. 

Lindor and Nimmo each singled with two outs in the eighth against Raisel Iglesias before Lee was summoned and struck out Soto. 

“I tried my best to get on base and get Pete up with the bases loaded or first and second or whatever, but it didn’t happen,” Soto said. “He made a great pitch. He made really great pitches on the corners and I just couldn’t go through the last one.”