MIAMI — Sunday, September 28, lined up perfectly. At loanDepot Park, the Marlins embraced the spoiler role against their division rival Mets. In Milwaukee, the Reds had their own win-and-in chance. By night’s end, both teams had lost. It was the comical and fitting end to two clubs that never looked like they truly wanted October.
World Baseball Network was on hand for it all — first watching the Mets unravel with Friday’s fifth-inning collapse, then seeing Sunday’s fourth-inning debacle seal their fate.
Queens South Turns Silent
The first crack came hundreds of miles away in Milwaukee. Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz smashed a solo home run against the Brewers that briefly put the Reds in postseason position. A Reds win or a Mets loss would have sent Cincinnati through.
By the time the dust settled, both had collapsed.
Who Gets The Ball Game 162
With the season on the line, Kodai Senga was buried in the minors. The rotation featured three rookies. That left Sean Manaea.
Five outs. That was all he managed.
New York Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea, right, hands the ball to New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza after being relieved during the second inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
The numbers predicted it. Over his final five outings before Sunday, Manaea threw just 18.2 innings with a 7.71 ERA. He was knocked out in Chicago after one inning on September 24. He gave up four earned runs to Washington in three innings a few days before. His lone bright spot, a five-inning, one-run win over San Diego, looked like an outlier sandwiched between disasters.
In Miami, the same script played out. Manaea labored, walked batters, and was gone before the second inning was over. The bullpen carried the load, but the tone had already shifted before first pitch.
Marlins Loose And Ready To Play Spoiler
An 80-second clip told the story. Marlins players jogged onto the field, greeting kids waiting at their positions, giving out daps, and even patting the ump with a glove. Loose, smiling, and ready to spoil a season.
One Miami player didn’t mince words: “We want to knock out our division foes.”
Already eliminated, Marlins 3B Connor Norby made it clear: “We want to play spoiler.” 👀
The Mets could be knocked out of playoff contention today with a loss and a Reds win. Can’t let Miami be the ones to end it.#Mets #LGM #LFGM pic.twitter.com/XFT2qfR4JB
— Fireside Mets (@firesidemets) September 27, 2025
By the fourth inning, they had. Connor Norby doubled. Eric Wagaman brought him in. Brian Navarreto followed with an RBI double. Javier Sanoja drilled a triple past a stumbling Brandon Nimmo, and Xavier Edwards capped it with a run-scoring single. Four runs later, the Mets trailed 4–0 and never recovered.
From there, they stranded the bases loaded in the fifth, failed to cash in Lindor’s seventh-inning double, and rolled over in the ninth on a double play that ended their year.
Alonso Opt Out Only The First Domino
After the game, Pete Alonso announced he will opt out of his remaining contract and enter free agency. The slugger’s decision could be the first in a series of departures after another Mets collapse.
Pete Alonso says he will opt out and become a free agent this offseason
On his future with the Mets: "Playing for this organization, this city – they've continued to believe in me. I love playing here. There's some great guys in this clubhouse, some great people on the staff.… pic.twitter.com/Lpa32DEEno
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) September 28, 2025
World Baseball Network via Underog MLB captured the full picture on X.
World Baseball Network covered the final three games of the Mets collapse at @loanDepotpark – SPOILER GAMES ARE AWESOME!!! https://t.co/k3knoacMIC https://t.co/htuGJ2G5WP
— World Baseball Network (@WorldBaseball_) September 28, 2025
Underdog MLB put it bluntly: a $341 million payroll, best record in baseball through June 12, fifth-worst record after that. The Mets would have clinched a postseason berth with a single win in Miami. Instead, history repeated. Just like in 2007 and 2008, their season ended with a Marlins loss.
Two Toilets Finish To The Season
Cincinnati lost its finale in Milwaukee, but still backed into October because the Mets collapsed in Miami. The viral Instagram posts — the animated MID-Offs and the two swinging toilets in a pendulum — became reality. Fans were left asking which team wanted the Wild Card less. The answer was both.
The Marlins relished their spoiler role, shutting out their division rival in front of a stadium packed with Mets fans. For New York, the season ended not with a fight, but with a whimper.
Now Time To Play The Blame Game
Brace yourself for an offseason of what-ifs and finger-pointing. Pete Alonso is electing free agency, and he will not be the only shift for the 2026 Mets. With a bloated payroll, a rotation built on rookies, and a front office out of answers, change is inevitable.
Toodaloo to the 2025 Mets. It was nice knowin’ ya.
