Devin Williams Off to Promising Start as Mets Closer

SAN FRANCISCO — Devin Williams has kicked off his tenure with the Mets with commendable poise, yet he recognizes the room for growth in his performance.

Strong Beginnings for Williams

In his initial three outings, Williams has impressively kept his earned run tally at zero, surrendering only a single hit and striking out four batters while walking two. Reflecting on his early success, he stated, “I’m getting good results, at least.”

However, the Mets closer acknowledges that refining his command, changeup, and fastball will be crucial as the season progresses. “I think just getting reps is going to help that,” he noted.

In a recent game, Williams pitched a clean inning during the Mets’ 2-1 defeat against the Cardinals in 11 innings. He did not appear in the subsequent 7-2 loss to the Giants, but his early performances have sparked optimism among fans and management.

Devin Williams is off to a solid start this season. (Getty Images)

Manager’s Trust in Williams

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza expressed confidence in Williams’ capabilities, stating there are no limitations on his pitching frequency so early in the season. This sets a positive tone for Williams, who revealed he was working on incorporating a cutter into his toolkit during spring training, although he has yet to use it in regular-season games. “I’m in a good spot with it,” Williams remarked. “It’s there if I need it.”

Injury Update: Jorge Polanco

Meanwhile, the Mets are awaiting the return of first baseman Jorge Polanco, who has been facing challenges with left Achilles discomfort. Mendoza mentioned that Polanco is "close" to rejoining the lineup, affirming, “Just wanted to give him an extra day [at DH].” This season, Polanco has served as designated hitter four times out of seven games.

Mark Vientos has stepped in seamlessly, starting at first base for the second consecutive game on Thursday.

The Mets’ Runners in Scoring Position Struggles

As the Mets continue their season, they are grappling with inefficiencies, particularly in clutch situations. The team has left 55 runners on base, tying for the highest in MLB alongside the Astros. Interestingly, they currently hold a dismal .162 batting average (11-for-68) with runners in scoring position, ranking 29th in the league—only the Reds have performed worse in this area. For further insights on this aspect of the game, check out MLB’s official statistics.

This season marks a historical note for the Mets, being only the second time they’ve played extra innings in three of their first six games, mirroring a similar occurrence in 1991.

Bullpen Strain Amid Tight Games

The strain of extra-inning games has placed considerable pressure on the bullpen, which was required to record 15 additional outs within the first week of play. Mendoza highlighted this point, acknowledging the challenges that come with these extended contests.

As the Mets navigate the challenges of the season, fans are eager to see how Devin Williams and the team adapt and improve in the coming weeks, hoping for a resurgence in clutch hitting and continued solid performances from the bullpen.