Mets demolished by Cubs in ugly first game of doubleheader

The Mets are on another steep slide.

Dropping their fourth straight game in the first of a doubleheader at Citi Field on Wednesday, the Mets got smoked by the Cubs, 10-3, to drop the first two contests in the four-game series against Chicago.

Since this latest losing streak began, the Mets have been outscored by an egregious 40-14 margin.

The smallest deficit they’ve had was a four-run difference in Tuesday’s 9-6 defeat.

By way of a couple of home runs, the Mets opened the scoring in the third inning.

Bo Bichette ripped one to left field for a base hit before Jared Young blasted his sixth homer of the season. The very next batter, Francisco Alvarez, then unloaded a 437-foot shot into the center field stands for the 3-0 lead.

It was a short-lived lead as the Cubs easily caught up the following inning thanks to an RBI double from former Met Michael Conforto and a two-out two-run homer from Michael Busch.

Cubs starting pitcher Javier Assad made quick work of the bottom of the fifth, retiring Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing and Bichette.

Mets starter Nolan McLean reacts after the Cubs’ Michael Busch hits a two-run homer during Game 1 of a doubleheader on June 24, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

The same couldn’t be said for Nolan McLean, who had a mixed bag of a day on the mound.

After Nico Hoerner popped one into deep right field for a double, Migual Amaya had a base hit that put runners on first and third. McLean hung a 95.5 mph four-seam fastball over the plate for Dansby Swanson to launch into the short porch in center for a 6-3 lead.

The Mets’ Mark Vientos reacts after striking out in the eighth inning during Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Cubs on June 24, 2026. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

McLean was replaced by Jonathan Pintario before they took the field in the sixth inning, wrapping up his day with seven hits, six runs, two walks, nine strikeouts, two home runs and two hit batters.

It was a rough outing for Pintario, who loaded the bases in the eighth after opening the inning with back-to-back walks and hitting Amaya with a pitch. Swanson then hit a grand slam to take a commanding 10-3 lead.