Where Mets' MLB-Worst 10-21 Record Ranks Among Worst Starts in Franchise History

The New York Mets are officially off to the third-worst start in franchise history.

The Mets lost 5-4 to the Washington Nationals at home on Thursday afternoon to fall to 10-21 on the season.

That marks the Mets' worst season start since an 8-23 opening to the 1981 season, per USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

Only the 1981 team and the 1964 Mets, which started the season 9-22, have had fewer wins through 31 games.

The Mets held a 4-3 lead heading into the eighth on Thursday before giving up a go-ahead two-run home run to Nationals shortstop C.J. Abrams in the bottom of the frame.

The home team ultimately conceded a 5-4 loss after losing 14-2 the day prior.

Thursday's loss dropped the Mets to 3-6 on their recent homestand and 3-17 in their last 20 games.

Now on pace for more than 100 losses, the Mets are in danger of following up their trip to the 2024 NLCS with consecutive postseason misses.

The Mets finished the 1964 season with a 53-109-1 record and the 1981 campaign with 41-62-2 mark.

Both of those teams ended up winning World Series titles five years later, in 1969 and 1986, respectively.

The Mets will now hope they don't have to wait until 2031 for their own title after heading into the season with the third-highest active payroll in MLB.

The club will need more consistency from its bullpen and more production from its offensive stars in order to recover from finishing the month of April with the worst record in MLB.