Williams Struggles in Save Opportunity Against Cubs

In Chicago, Devin Williams’ recent outings for the Mets have raised concerns. After a rough inning against the Dodgers earlier in the week, he found himself in a save situation on Sunday, which didn’t go as planned. A game-tying double from Michael Conforto contributed to the Mets’ 2-1 loss to the Cubs after 10 innings.

“I left a pitch in the middle, and he capitalized on it,” Williams reflected, acknowledging his misstep.

Williams started the inning by allowing a single to Ian Happ. Then, with just one out on the board, Conforto’s single tied the game. This follows a previous performance where Williams faced significant challenges, managing only one out while giving up four runs on three hits and a walk. So far in the season, he has played in seven games with a disappointing 7.11 ERA.

The situation may be compounded by his limited opportunities to pitch, as he’s only taken the mound three times in the past two weeks. “That’s part of the role,” Williams stated. “I need to be prepared and finish the game when called upon, but today, it just didn’t happen.”

The Mets are gearing up for a nine-game homestand starting Tuesday, facing the Twins, Rockies, and Nationals. Juan Soto is anticipated to return during this stretch after missing 14 games due to a calf strain.

“He’s irreplaceable,” shared Francisco Lindor regarding Soto. “Having him back will be a huge boost. If he returns on top of his game, it’ll really help us, but we can’t rely solely on him.”

Conforto’s ninth-inning double marked his second career game-tying hit as a pinch hitter; the first happened back in 2017 against Miami.

In an odd twist, Brett Batty got a hit in his first at-bat but failed to find success afterward, going 0-for-22 in subsequent attempts.