Mets relievers Addison Reed, Jeurys Familia have been constants in season of change
In a tumultuous year, two Mets relievers have been dominant throughout
Very few things have been a constant for the New York Mets this season, but one has been the assurance that when they have a lead in a close game after the seventh, Addison Reed and Jeurys Familia have been there to finish the deal in their respective roles.
Reed has the league lead in holds and Familia is tops in saves. With an offense that has been banged up and far from potent at times, it combines for a lot of close games.
The Mets’ run differential on the season is +28. Only two teams with winning records (Detroit and Texas) currently have smaller differentials.
Still, you have to convert when given the chances. And Familia has converted 48 of his 51 save chances this season. While he’s provided some ninth innings with a lot of drama and more base runners than desired, he almost always finds a way.
That’s what has Familia vaulting quickly up the Mets’ all-time saves list. To quantify, Familia has the fourth most walks of all 21 pitchers with at least 20 saves. However, he’s also tied for third in strikeouts and is second in double plays induced.
The more unsung hero has been Reed — especially lately. Though the pitching staff has held it together very well, the current lot hasn’t been able to pitch as deep into games as the guys they’ve replaced.
Through it all, Reed has been there, which his 35 holds indicate. He also leads the league by six holds over the second pitcher on the list, Neftali Feliz.
A former closer, Reed understands the pressure that comes with a late game situation, but his pure numbers as a reliever weren’t very attractive in his pre-Mets days. Since coming to New York, Reed’s career has been revitalized.
In three years with the White Sox and two years with the Diamondbacks, Reed had an ERA over 4.00. In one and a half seasons with the Mets, he’s cut that by more than half. All of his numbers across the board have been reduced dramatically, but one to point out in particular is the walks.
In his first full season as a Met, Reed is walking 1.6 batters per nine innings. His career average prior to this year in that category was close to 3.0.
In what has been a season full of change, the Mets are still contenders largely because of these two guys who you could argue are the best eighth and ninth inning combination in the Majors this year.
And if the Mets are able to make it to the playoffs, it’s a great luxury to know you can shorten the game with a dependable setup man and closer.
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In a tumultuous year, two Mets relievers have been dominant throughout
Very few things have been a constant for the New York Mets this season, but one has been the assurance that when they have a lead in a close game after the seventh, Addison Reed and Jeurys Familia have been there to finish the deal in their respective roles.
Reed has the league lead in holds and Familia is tops in saves. With an offense that has been banged up and far from potent at times, it combines for a lot of close games.
The Mets’ run differential on the season is +28. Only two teams with winning records (Detroit and Texas) currently have smaller differentials.
Still, you have to convert when given the chances. And Familia has converted 48 of his 51 save chances this season. While he’s provided some ninth innings with a lot of drama and more base runners than desired, he almost always finds a way.
That’s what has Familia vaulting quickly up the Mets’ all-time saves list. To quantify, Familia has the fourth most walks of all 21 pitchers with at least 20 saves. However, he’s also tied for third in strikeouts and is second in double plays induced.
The more unsung hero has been Reed — especially lately. Though the pitching staff has held it together very well, the current lot hasn’t been able to pitch as deep into games as the guys they’ve replaced.
Through it all, Reed has been there, which his 35 holds indicate. He also leads the league by six holds over the second pitcher on the list, Neftali Feliz.
A former closer, Reed understands the pressure that comes with a late game situation, but his pure numbers as a reliever weren’t very attractive in his pre-Mets days. Since coming to New York, Reed’s career has been revitalized.
In three years with the White Sox and two years with the Diamondbacks, Reed had an ERA over 4.00. In one and a half seasons with the Mets, he’s cut that by more than half. All of his numbers across the board have been reduced dramatically, but one to point out in particular is the walks.
In his first full season as a Met, Reed is walking 1.6 batters per nine innings. His career average prior to this year in that category was close to 3.0.
In what has been a season full of change, the Mets are still contenders largely because of these two guys who you could argue are the best eighth and ninth inning combination in the Majors this year.
And if the Mets are able to make it to the playoffs, it’s a great luxury to know you can shorten the game with a dependable setup man and closer.
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