Building a good bullpen is more or less a crap shoot from season to season, or even month to month.
For the Mets this winter, they were able to snag a couple guys who have panned out. They inked Justin Wilson to a multi-year contract and he has pitched to the tune of a 2.10 ERA in 35 appearances. They also signed Luis Avilan to a minor league deal.
Avilan, 30, has allowed one earned run (0.57 ERA) in 21 games (15.2 innings) since returning from the 10-Day
IL. He was on the 10-Day IL from May 4-July 2 with left elbow soreness. Additionally, he owns the lowest ERA (0.59) in the majors since the All-Star break (min. 10.0 innings).
In his career, Avilan has been exceptionally tough on left-handed hitters. In fact, he has held left-handed batters to a .203 (117-for-575) average in his career. Since 2012, that is the sixth-best mark by a lefty pitcher against left-handed hitters (min. 500 left-handed batters faced).
This year, that fact holds true yet again. Lefties are 2-for-34 (.059), the third-lowest batting average in the majors (min. 10 batters faced).
The fact that New York was able to snag Avilan on a minor league deal was a shrewd move at the time that has paid great dividends as the season has progressed.
Over the last couple seasons, Avilan has relied heavily on his changeup. The same holds true for 2019. According to Brooks Baseball, Avilan has “relied primarily on his Change (83 mph) and Fourseam Fastball (91 mph), also mixing in a Curve (76 mph).”
The speed difference from his changeup to his fastball is a stark one, and one that has the potential to devastate the opposing batter.
As the Mets push for a playoff spot, Avilan’s presence in the bullpen will continue to be much needed.
