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Devin Williams found himself immersed in a late-night session on Thursday, reviewing footage with his new pitching coaches from the Mets. The aim was to pinpoint the issues plaguing his performance this season.
“He’s not wallowing in self-pity,” remarked manager Carlos Mendoza regarding the closer, who has struggled recently, giving up runs in his last four games and allowing multiple base runners in the six consecutive outings leading up to Friday’s narrow 4-3 defeat against the Rockies, a game in which he did not appear.
“They’re actively searching for what’s lacking,” Mendoza explained. “Williams is aware of what needs to be done to break out of this slump. He’ll continue to have chances to prove himself as our closer.”
Once a formidable weapon, Williams’ changeup has seen better days. This pitch, which once made him a force to reckon with in the bullpen until Pete Alonso’s home run off him during the 2024 playoffs, is now being capitalized on by hitters this season.
David Stearns, the president of baseball operations, acknowledged the issue, noting that Williams’ “changeup hasn’t been exactly where he wants it yet.”
And his four-seam fastball hasn’t been much more effective.
Pitching coach Justin Willard said they are working on some minor tweaks and said he does not believe Williams is pitching poorly because of playing in New York — even as he’s struggled as a closer in The Bronx and Queens.
“That guy has the slowest heartbeat I’ve ever been around,” Willard said. “It’s not the atmosphere. It’s minor tweaks to get him back to the level he wants to be at, which is one of the best to have ever done this.”
The rest of the bullpen is a bit of a mess, as well, with the Mets going with David Peterson, Sean Manaea and Tobias Myers — all options to be in the rotation — pitching in relief.
Mendoza acknowledged Friday that might not be sustainable — and that was before Manaea threw 3 ¹/₃ innings out of the bullpen in Friday’s loss, striking out seven and throwing 61 pitches.
Before the game, Christian Scott was optioned to Syracuse after he struggled Thursday in his return from Tommy John surgery. Scott walked five in just 1 ¹/₃ innings, but the move to Triple-A was not a product of his poor outing, according to Mendoza.
“It had nothing to do with [Thursday] night,’’ the manager said. “The message was, ‘Flush that one, go back and you’re going to start a lot of games here.’ ”
Since they needed an arm capable of providing length out of the pen, veteran right-hander Carl Edwards Jr. was recalled from Triple-A.
The 34-year-old Edwards has spent parts of 11 seasons in the majors.
Peterson, who has pitched well in long relief after three straight poor starts, may replace Scott in the rotation and will almost certainly pitch on Wednesday, either in a start or after an opener.
Kodai Senga starts Saturday after two of the worst outings of his career.
Despite his subpar performance, Stearns said a move to the bullpen hasn’t been considered.
“We’ve seen flashes from Kodai,” Stearns said. “We haven’t seen consistency. We’re banking on the flashes and him continuing to get into the rhythm of the season, but we need more consistency.”
Jorge Polanco, nursing a right wrist contusion and a sore left Achilles, began baseball activities Friday, but is “week to week” according to Stearns.
Whenever he does return, the Mets still hope to include him in the first base mix since they want flexibility at DH, especially with Juan Soto still being protected after his return from his calf strain. … The Mets have lost the opening game of their last five series.