Devin Williams Remains Mets Closer Despite Recent Struggles

Devin Williams faced scrutiny after his recent outing, particularly following a blown save in a dramatic 3-2, 10-inning loss to Boston. While an error by Francisco Lindor in the ninth inning certainly did not help, Williams’ performance has been a cause for concern. Over the past few weeks, he’s allowed runs in three of his last four appearances, raising questions about his reliability as the Mets’ closer.

Despite these challenges, interim manager Andy Green is standing firm in his decision to keep Williams in the closer role for the second half of the season. When asked about the possibility of a change after the team’s third consecutive defeat, Green stated, “Not at this point.” This endorsement comes even as former Yankee Luke Weaver has been excelling, providing an additional layer of pressure on Williams.

Reflecting on his performance against the Red Sox, Williams acknowledged, “I didn’t have my best command by any means. That’s the way it goes sometimes.” His outing was marred by two hits and two walks in the crucial inning, but Green pointed out that Williams has a wealth of experience that makes him a valuable asset. “Devin has done it so long and done it really well,” Green noted, emphasizing that the closer’s struggles are not solely his fault.

Williams was also the victim of misfortune on Sunday, with Lindor’s error and a bloop single from Jarren Duran contributing to the loss. Green maintained that Williams showed positive signs on the mound, despite the unfavorable outcome.

In roster news, Bo Bichette missed his third consecutive game due to right ankle soreness, only making a brief appearance as a pinch hitter in the 10th. Green indicated that the team plans to use the upcoming All-Star break to give Bichette additional recovery time, but the shortstop expressed confidence in his readiness to play Thursday against Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, Marcus Semien is making strides in his recovery from a left hip flexor strain, having homered and recorded two hits in a minor league rehab game with Double-A Binghamton. Green mentioned that both Semien and Luis Robert Jr., who is dealing with a lumbar spine disc herniation, would be getting at-bats against Clay Holmes during the break as part of their preparation to rejoin the Mets. Robert also had a successful outing in Binghamton, contributing two hits.

Additionally, right-hander Tobias Myers was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on Sunday to make room for Zach Thornton on the roster. As the Mets look to regroup in the second half of the season, the focus will be on Williams’ ability to bounce back and the impending returns of key players.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.