Their 9-0 loss to the Rays at Citi Field epitomized a series that saw cracks -- in some cases, for the first time all year -- surface in various corners of the roster. The sweep itself was not overly damaging for the Mets, who still lead the National League East by 2 1/2 games and hold the best record in the NL.

The former New York Mets Cy Young winner doesn’t have “any interest” in returning to New York, per a new trade projection.

It was a travel day Thursday for the Rays while the Mets were in action completing a series sweep of the Washington Nationals. Jeff McNeil went yard for the seventh time this season to pace the attack against the Nats. The Mets are now 27-7 at Citi Field.

When the Mets host the Nationals from June 12–14 at Citi Field, it’s a chance to take control of the NL East. The Mets are 44–24 and 24–8 at home and sweeping Washington could extend the lead and send a message to Philly and Atlanta. The Nationals are under .500 but never an easy opponent and could cut into the Mets’ lead with one or two wins.

NEW YORK — The Rays made it a clean sweep of the previously major-league-best Mets on Sunday, rolling to a 9-0 victory. A three-run second inning that included one hit out of the infield, a two-run double by Jonathan Aranda and a three-run homer by Junior Caminero provided most of the offense.

The weekend saw the Dodgers take two of three from the Yankees and the Mets sweep the Rockies in a three-game series. Highlights included three home runs from Max Muncy over the last two games for Los Angeles and Juan Soto getting his bat going with four hits in nine at bats including a pair of home runs.

The New York Mets head into 10 straight games against NL East rival Atlanta and Philadelphia after getting swept in a series for the first time this season