Former Milwaukee Brewers all-star closer Devin Williams just hasn’t been able to get off the rollercoaster since leaving Milwaukee.
Williams had another tough outing for the New York Mets on Tuesday night, April 21, allowing two runs in the ninth that helped the Minnesota Twins prevail, 5-3, and send the Mets to a 12th consecutive loss. Now 7-16, New York has the worst record in the National League.
Williams didn’t record an out, allowing a single, walking three batters (one with the bases loaded) and permitting two runs, with the Mets unable to get an out on a sacrifice bunt, as well. Austin Warren replaced Williams and struck out the next three batters, but the damage was done.
Williams has allowed in runs in three straight games, blowing a save April 19 and allowing four runs April 15 while getting just one out. After signing a three-year deal this offseason worth $51 million, Williams has two saves this season and a 9.95 ERA in eight games (6⅓ innings).
It’s similar to what happened last year with a different New York team, the Yankees, where Williams had been traded from the Brewers in a deal that brought back Caleb Durbin and Nestor Cortes. After back-to-back ugly outings in late April, Williams had a 11.25 ERA on April 25 last year, but he was effective over his next 33 games, with a 2.87 ERA until running into late-season trouble and permitting runs in five straight outings.
Overall, Williams had a 4.79 ERA in 62 innings with 90 strikeouts and 25 walks last year.
With the Brewers, he had a 1.25 ERA in an injury-delayed half season in 2024, before his current employer famously burned him in Game 3 of the National League Division Series with a gut-punching four-run ninth that sent the Brewers to elimination.
From 2020 through 2024 in Milwaukee, Williams had a 1.70 ERA with 361 strikeouts in 222 innings.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Devin Williams struggles as Mets’ losing streak hits 12
Reporting by JR Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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