High-spending Mets assured of first last-place finish since 2003 with 7-6 loss to Nationals

The New York Mets, a team that once boasted a hefty $358.4 million payroll, are set to finish last in their division for the first time since 2003. This bleak outcome came as they suffered a 7-6 loss to the Washington Nationals on Friday night. Josiah Gray, a key player for the Mets, recorded his first major league save since making his return to the big leagues after more than two years, as he took the mound for his first home game in nearly two years.

Dylan Crews provided the Mets with some late-game excitement, as he delivered a crucial homer to help the Nationals maintain their lead.

The Nationals, currently sitting at a 76-84 record, have won nine of their last ten games and are assured of the fourth spot in the National League East. This recent run of victories has propelled them to a position where they will likely finish fourth in the division, a stark contrast to their previous seven consecutive seasons where they found themselves in either fourth or fifth place.

New York, on the other hand, began the season with a record-setting payroll but has struggled to match the success of their competitors, culminating in their first last-place finish since 2002, when they posted a 66-95 record.