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It\u2019s been a dizzying fall from the 2015 World Series.<\/p>\n
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Just over one decade later, the Kansas City Royals and New York Mets are brothers in arms as two of the worst teams early in baseball\u2019s 2026 season.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n They\u2019ve won just seven games apiece, with the Royals holding 16 losses to the Mets\u2019 15. Both have struggled against left-handed pitchers and have yet to record a win against southpaws.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They play in different leagues \u2014 the Royals are in Major League Baseball\u2019s American League, while the Mets are in the National \u2014 but each team entered the 2026 season with high expectations.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thus far they\u2019re traversing similar losing paths. On social media, the two cities\u2019 similarly rabid fanbases have debated which team is worse off 11 years removed from the 2015 World Series \u2014 won by the Royals \u2014 and why.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n For the Royals, only a few of their stars \u2014 Bobby Witt Jr. and Maikel Garcia, for instance \u2014 are delivering at the plate and with their gloves thus far in 2026.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Others, such as Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez, are struggling to get their bats going. Both are currently batting under .200.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Various bloopers have plagued the Royals and Mets alike \u2014 blame players running into each other and dropping fly balls, poor baserunning<\/a> and leaky bullpens. The Royals are in the midst of eight-game losing streak, unable to win even once during their most recent road trip (to Detroit and New York).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n On Monday, after tying the score in their series opener against Baltimore to force extra innings at Kauffman Stadium, the Royals lost 7-5 to the Orioles.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Mets are in similar straits with 11 straight losses \u2014 their longest losing streak since 2004. They certainly share some of the same problems as their counterparts in KC, leaving runners in scoring position and struggling to maintain leads.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Royals and Mets of 2026 are linked by at least one player: MJ Melendez.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Once a promising catcher and outfield prospect with the Royals \u2014 he was KC\u2019s second-round pick in 2017 \u2014 Melendez hit just .083 in 60 at-bats in 2025 … and that was his final season with the Royals.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n With the Mets, Melendez is one of New York\u2019s few bright spots. He\u2019s provided better stats in four games than he did all of last season, which for Melendez ended with a demotion to Triple-A ball and eventual non-tender. He was picked up by the Mets in February.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n All of the above helps explain why the Mets find themselves where they do now, but fans in the largest market in the country point out one more factor: payroll.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Mets are paying several big-money stars \u2014 such as Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor \u2014 and have a payroll over $370 million<\/a>. It\u2019s the second-most expensive roster in the game, second only to the back-to-back World Series-champion L.A. Dodgers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Royals rank 18th in MLB payroll, with most of their core starters having signed contract extensions in the past two years.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Through 20-plus games, ample time remains in the 2026 season. The Royals and\/or Mets could go on runs and turn around their seasons. Their records could be dramatically different by the time they meet for a three-game series in New York starting on July 8.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For now, though, they represent the bottom of the barrel.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 3:11 PM.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\nToo few key Royals are contributing<\/h2>\n
Meet the Mets\u2019 MJ Melendez<\/h2>\n
And finally, the payroll factor<\/h2>\n