Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Mets have spent the entire 2022 season looking for a reliable lefty reliever to get outs. GM Billy Eppler decided not to acquire a lefty at the trade deadline and instead cited that they were hopeful in-house lefty Joely Rodríguez would turn his season around.
To the surprise of most, Rodríguez has done just that. In August, the former Yankee posted a 3.27 ERA over 11 innings. His strong August did come with the caveat that he suffered two losses in his last three appearances of the month. That didn’t stop Joel from having his best month (so far) as a Met this September.
In seven September appearances, Joely Rodríguez has allowed only two runs in 8 1/3 innings, good for a 2.16 ERA. He’s allowed only four hits and two walks in that span while striking out 12. His last four outings have been even better, he’s faced 18 batters and retired them all including half of them via strikeout.
The big reason for the recent success of Rodríguez is limiting walks significantly compared to his early season outings. From the start of the season through July, Rodríguez was walking an unsightly 6.59 batters per nine innings. Over the last two months, that number is all the way down to 2.7 walks per nine innings. A stark improvement for a pitcher the Mets needed to badly step up.
Limiting walks for Rodríguez is such a big key because when hitters do make contact against him it’s among the softest in the majors. Rodríguez ranks in the 98th percentile in average exit velocity and 95th percentile in hard hit percentage this season.
Rodríguez doesn’t have significant platoon splits this season with righties currently at a .638 OPS and lefties at .651 vs the left-hander.
If Rodríguez can continue cutting down on the walks down the stretch and into the playoffs, I’m sure manager Buck Showalter will feel more comfortable in using Joely in important spots.
