Alex Cora’s dismissal as manager of the Boston Red Sox has added to a bleak start for three major‑market clubs. The Red Sox, the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies all sit near the bottom of their divisions after just 28 games of the 2026 season.
Boston’s 11‑17 record places the team in last place in the American League East, seven games behind the New York Yankees. The Red Sox’s run differential sits at –11, a figure bolstered by a 17‑1 victory in which the Baltimore Orioles deployed a position player as a pitcher in a 10‑run ninth inning. Despite the poor start, FanGraphs still assigns Boston a 34 percent chance of reaching the postseason.
The Mets have fared worse, losing 15 of their last 17 contests to fall to 9‑19 and the worst record in the National League East. New York’s offense has scored the fewest runs in the majors and is currently without shortstop Francisco Lindor, who is out with a calf strain. Manager Carlos Mendoza remains on the bench, but the club’s run differential is among the league’s lowest.
Philadelphia mirrors New York’s record at 9‑19 after dropping 11 of 12 games in late April. The Phillies’ decline follows the return of ace Zack Wheeler, who made his 2026 debut and helped end a ten‑game losing streak, yet the team now trails the Atlanta Braves by 10½ games in the NL East. FanGraphs gives the Phillies a 33 percent probability of postseason qualification, equal to the Mets.
All three clubs retain realistic, though slim, chances of salvaging their seasons. The next month will be critical; continued struggles through Memorial Day could render a comeback improbable. The Red Sox, despite a comparatively better run differential, must improve consistency, while the Mets and Phillies need to address offensive production and pitching depth.
Trivia: The lowest batting average in the National League belongs to Phillies first‑baseman Alec Bohm, who is hitting .143, while the highest earned‑run average among qualified pitchers is posted by the team’s starter Jesús Luzardo at 6.91.
In other league news, Milwaukee’s Kyle Harrison delivered a standout performance, striking out 12 batters over six one‑hit innings in a 5‑0 win over Pittsburgh, preventing the Pirates from sweeping the series for the first time since 2016. Meanwhile, Kansas City rallied from a three‑run deficit with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to tie the Los Angeles Angels, eventually winning 11‑9 in 10 innings after a series of clutch hits, including a three‑run homer by Lane Thomas.
These developments underscore the volatility of the early season and the narrow margins that separate contention from the cellar across Major League Baseball.
