Cedric Mullins’ slump deepens as Mets drop series to Reds

CINCINNATI — Cedric Mullins’ struggles since arriving in New York continued Sunday as the Mets fell 3-2 to the Cincinnati Reds, a loss that underscored the outfielder’s prolonged offensive funk and broader roster concerns.

Mullins went 0-for-2 with a strikeout against Reds ace Hunter Greene, extending a skid to 0-for-21 over his past eight games with the Mets and leaving him at a .178 batting average and a .568 OPS in 29 games since the trade from Baltimore. Manager Carlos Mendoza said Mullins is making contact but missing hittable pitches.

"I think missing fastballs. Late at times. Fouling them off. Not being able to square them up," Mendoza said before the game. "Controls the strike zone, but I think he’s missing a lot of good pitches to hit." The Mets acquired Mullins in part for his lefty-friendly bat and in part for his defensive range in center field.

Despite a couple of near-misses on potential home-run robbing plays Saturday, Mullins’ arm proved insufficient on Sunday when he fielded a sacrifice fly in medium-deep center and hit cutoff man Jeff McNeil. The relay to the plate arrived too late to prevent Noelvi Marte from scoring.

Hunter Greene dominated the Mets lineup for much of the game, and Brett Baty was the only Mets hitter to reliably reach him Sunday. Baty, who homered in the third inning, has hit well over an extended stretch and entered the game with a .323/.388/.516 line over his past 28 contests. Juan Soto provided a late spark, connecting for a ninth-inning home run that extended his hitting streak to nine games, but the offense could not overcome Greene’s performance.

The Mets appear willing to give Mullins a longer runway to rediscover his form, particularly with utility outfielder Tyrone Taylor on the injured list with a hamstring strain. Jeff McNeil has occasionally filled in in center, but the club has been cautious about using the 33-year-old natural infielder regularly in the outfield.

Mendoza also addressed bullpen issues, singling out right-hander Ryan Helsley, who has struggled through an 11.45 ERA in 14 appearances with the Mets and has allowed at least one run in nine of those outings. Helsley has said he corrected a pitch-tipping problem, but results have not improved.

"I think it’s just the execution," Mendoza said of Helsley. "Being able to elevate the fastball when he needs to, locate the fastball. … I know [pitching coach Jeremy Hefner] is working hard with him, and we got to get him there."

The Mets activated Reed Garrett from the injured list and added right-hander Brandon Sproat to the active roster. To accommodate Sproat on the 40-man, Justin Garza was designated for assignment. Relievers Wander Suero and Kevin Herget were optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. In Triple-A action, Tylor Megill, rehabbing an elbow sprain, lasted just two-plus innings and surrendered five runs; the Mets said they would discuss next steps after the outing.

Mullins’ acquisition was intended to bolster both outfield defense and left-handed hitting in the lineup. Through nearly a month with New York, defensive plays have shown his range but the anticipated offensive production has not materialized. With the Mets navigating a stretch of injuries and uneven bullpen performances, the club will balance patience with the need for offense as it evaluates roster alignment down the final weeks of the regular season.

Sunday’s loss left the Mets searching for more consistent production from their new additions and for answers in late-game pitching. Mullins’ slump and Helsley’s struggles are likely to remain focal points for the team’s coaching staff as the Mets head into their next series.