It’s a bittersweet moment for the New York Mets as they kick off their series in Arlington tonight. Christian Scott, the right-hander who battled back from Tommy John surgery, is officially done for the year, hitting the 15-day IL with left knee inflammation. But hold up, because another big arm, Devin Williams, is finally back from his right shoulder strain that’s kept him sidelined since August 8. Talk about a bullpen rollercoaster!
Scott’s Comeback Cut Short After A Season Of Highs And Lows
Man, Christian Scott’s sophomore season started with so much promise, especially after coming back from Tommy John surgery on April 23. The dude made 23 starts, putting up a solid 3.85 ERA with 134 strikeouts and 47 walks across 110 innings pitched. That’s a serious step up, blowing past his previous career-high in innings. But it seems like that workload started to catch up with the 27-year-old. His final seven starts? A tough 5.30 ERA. His last time on the mound was Saturday afternoon, where he gave up three runs in 4.2 innings during the Mets’ 10-3 win against the Phillies. Now he’s on the shelf, and his year is over. That’s a gut punch for the guy and the team.
Devin Williams Is Back, And The Closer Role Is A Hot Mess
Now for the flip side: Devin Williams is back! But let’s be real, his first season in Queens has been a total mixed bag. Remember mid-April? He gave up eight runs while getting only six outs in a brutal four-appearance stretch. Yikes. Then he locked it down, becoming straight-up dominant from that point through late June. We’re talking 51 strikeouts in just 38.2 innings pitched, boosted by a crazy 39.0% chase rate and 34.9% whiff rate. He even converted 16 of 19 save opportunities. Those are some nasty numbers! But then you look at his 4.66 ERA and 1.66 WHIP, and it’s clear it wasn’t exactly what the Mets had in mind when they signed him to that three-year deal last offseason. In Williams’ absence, Kodai Senga stepped up as the interim closer, even bagging seven consecutive saves to start his new gig. But that run hit a wall when Pete Alonso blasted one off him last Tuesday night. And Senga’s last outing on Sunday? Three runs, just one out against the Phillies. Oof.
So, with Scott done for the year and Williams rejoining the squad, all eyes are on the bullpen tonight as they kick off against the Texas Rangers. Senga’s got six games left,three in Texas and three in Washington,to try and bounce back and finish strong out of the bullpen. Meanwhile, Williams gets a final taste of big-league action before the offseason. This Mets bullpen is gonna be a wild ride.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Amazin’ Avenue.
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