Mets' Pitching Woes Continue in 7-1 Loss to Orioles as Curry Struggles in Emergency Start
Xzavion Curry surrendered four home runs in three innings as the Mets fell to the Orioles 7-1, despite strong relief appearances from Jefry Yan and Jack Weisenburger. Chris Bassitt dominated his former team with 6.2 innings of one-run ball for Baltimore.
The New York Mets' pitching staff endured another difficult night at Camden Yards on Wednesday, with emergency starter Xzavion Curry getting battered in a 7-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. While the bullpen provided five innings of scoreless relief, the offense managed just seven hits against former Met Chris Bassitt and the Orioles' pitching staff, continuing a concerning trend for the struggling club.
Curry's Rough Emergency Start
Pressed into duty after Robert Stock's injury placement on the IL, Curry immediately found trouble against Baltimore's powerful lineup. The right-hander served up a first-inning solo shot to Pete Alonso, marking the third consecutive night the Orioles slugger received a standing ovation from the home crowd. The problems only worsened in the second inning when former Mets prospect Jeremiah Jackson connected on a two-run blast, followed by back-to-back homers from Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Samuel Basallo in the third.
Curry's final line told the story of his struggles: three innings pitched, six runs allowed on six hits including four home runs, with one walk. The 25-year-old's ERA ballooned to 9.53 through four appearances this season, raising serious questions about his viability as even a spot starter moving forward. Manager Carlos Mendoza had little choice but to pull Curry after just three innings, leaving the bullpen to cover the remaining six frames.
Bullpen Provides Lone Bright Spot
The Mets' relief corps delivered the team's only positive performance of the night, with newly recalled left-hander Jefry Yan emerging as the standout. The 24-year-old, called up earlier Wednesday when Daniel Duarte was placed on the IL, fired three perfect innings while striking out five Orioles. Yan displayed an impressive mix of pitches, including a sharp slider that fooled multiple Baltimore hitters during his dominant outing.
Right-hander Jack Weisenburger followed with two scoreless innings before allowing a single run in his third frame of work. The reliever showed excellent defensive awareness by picking off Colton Cowser at first base after his third disengagement, a play that temporarily halted Baltimore's momentum. While the final score remained lopsided, the bullpen's 5.1 innings of one-run ball provided some encouragement after recent struggles.
Bassitt Dominates Former Club
Chris Bassitt delivered exactly what the Orioles needed after their bullpen logged heavy work in Tuesday night's extra-inning victory. The veteran right-hander, who pitched for the Mets in 2022, tied his season high with 6.2 innings pitched while allowing just one run on five hits. Bassitt's six strikeouts included two against Francisco Lindor, who remains stuck at 299 career home runs after an 0-for-4 night.
The performance marked Bassitt's fourth quality start in his last five outings, lowering his ERA to 3.92 on the season. His ability to work deep into the game proved crucial for Baltimore, allowing manager Brandon Hyde to rest key relievers ahead of Thursday's series finale. Bassitt's outing also continued his strong recent form against his former team, against whom he now owns a 2.25 ERA in two starts this season.
Offensive Struggles Continue
New York's lineup showed little life against Bassitt and the Orioles bullpen, mustering just one run on Marcus Semien's RBI single in the fourth inning that scored Jared Young. Rookie A.J. Ewing provided the lone multi-hit performance with two singles, while the rest of the order combined to go 5-for-29 with eight strikeouts.
The continued struggles of Francisco Lindor loom particularly large for the Mets, as the shortstop's power drought reached 10 games. His 0-for-4 night left him one homer shy of the 300 milestone, a plateau reached by only 11 other active players. The team's offensive woes have become a troubling pattern, with the Mets' .675 OPS in July ranking 24th in MLB during that span.
Roster Challenges Mount
Wednesday's game highlighted New York's mounting pitching depth issues, with Stock's IL stint forcing the club to recall both Curry and Yan on short notice. The bullpen has now absorbed 14 innings over the past three games, creating potential availability problems as the team prepares for a crucial four-game series in Philadelphia.
Daniel Duarte's shoulder injury further strains the relief corps, though Yan's impressive debut offers a potential solution. The Mets will need to decide whether to keep the young left-hander in the bullpen or return him to Triple-A when Duarte returns. These roster decisions come at a critical time as the trade deadline approaches and the team evaluates its needs.
Looking Ahead to Phillies Series
The Mets face an immediate test of their resilience with Thursday's series opener against division-rival Philadelphia. New York will send rookie Nolan McLean (3.24 ERA) against Phillies ace Aaron Nola in what shapes up as a challenging pitching matchup.
McLean has been one of the Mets' most consistent starters recently, posting a 2.08 ERA over his last three outings. The 22-year-old right-hander will need to provide length to spare the overworked bullpen, especially with three more games looming in the weekend series. His performance could prove pivotal as the Mets look to gain ground in the competitive NL East.
Broader Implications
Beyond the lopsided scoreline, this game exposed several concerning trends for the Mets as they approach the trade deadline. The rotation's lack of reliable depth behind the frontline starters has become increasingly apparent, potentially forcing the front office to seek external help. Meanwhile, the offense's prolonged slump raises legitimate questions about whether the current lineup possesses enough firepower to contend for a playoff spot.
While Yan's emergence provides a rare bright spot in an otherwise disappointing stretch, the team faces critical decisions in the coming weeks. With the Phillies series representing their final games before the All-Star break, the Mets need to demonstrate they can compete with playoff-caliber teams. Failure to do so could push the organization toward becoming deadline sellers rather than buyers as they assess their long-term competitiveness.