Mets closer Jeurys Familia has struggled in non-save situations
Mets closer Jeurys Familia was asked to hold a game in a non-save situation on Wednesday night, something he wasn’t effective doing all year.
With one swing, it was instantly over for the Mets. After Noah Syndergaard pitched a fantastic game and Addison Reed got out of the eighth inning, it was up Familia to keep the deadlock.
Instead, the result was a three-run homer allowed to Conor Gillaspie that basically secured San Francisco’s spot in the NLDS.
We’ve seen this movie before. Though it was a surprise that it happened via the long ball (Familia only allowed one homer all year), in non-save chances, we haven’t seen nearly the same pitcher who racked up 51 saves with his powerful arsenal and ability to escape a lot of jams unscathed.
The numbers back this claim.
Familia’s ERA was 4.09 in non-save situations compared to 1.94 in save situations. Opponents’ batting average was 27 points higher against Familia in non-save situations while slugging percentage saw a 44-point spike. Though his strikeout rates were the same, Familia just was not able to take over like he usually does when there’s a lead to protect in the ninth.
Familia has gone through the ranks of the Mets all-time saves list in meteoric fashion. Yet even though he cleared 50 saves in a season, it still didn’t feel as dominant overall. Beyond the non-save situations, Familia had issues with walks. His walks per nine jumped from 2.2 in 2015 to 3.6 this season.
Along with Reed, a tandem formed that could lock down a game better than practically any other team. Yet for some reason, Familia couldn’t carry that over throughout the season in different situations and a record-setting season ended on a sour note for the 26-year-old.
Though the Mets were firmly against the odds with loads of injuries to their pitching staff, Wednesday was a bitter end for a team that fought through so much to make the postseason.
This squad employed the “next man up” mentality time and again. As tough as the ending was, though, there’s one thing it wasn’t when you go by the numbers: surprising.
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