The New York Mets' homecoming to Citi Field has turned frigid in more ways than one. A biting spring cold seems to have seeped into their bats, as their offense froze completely in a 4-0 shutout loss to the Oakland Athletics on Friday night.

While the weather may be a factor, the bigger concern was the health of starter Clay Holmes. The right-hander exited after 5.1 innings with left hamstring tightness, a potential blow to the rotation after he had effectively navigated a pesky A's lineup, allowing just one earned run.

The Mets' scoring woes have been stark. In four games since returning home, the lineup has managed only seven total runs, going 1-3. Their best chance to break through came in the sixth inning, putting runners on the corners with no outs. However, a fielder's choice and a rally-killing double play snuffed out the threat.

Adding a layer of frustration, the Mets were blanked by a familiar arm. J.T. Ginn, a former Mets draft pick traded to Oakland in 2022, tossed four scoreless innings of one-hit ball. For a team with postseason aspirations, this cold offensive spell and a key pitcher's injury are early-season concerns that need to heat up quickly.