Devin Williams closes out Marlins on Thursday

Williams struck out one and allowed one hit as New York took the first of the doubleheader. He’s remained the team’s locked-in closer all year despite another ERA over 4. There just haven’t been as many save opportunities as projected entering the season. The Angels are the only team with fewer saves than the Mets, capping Williams’ chances. It doesn’t help that he hasn’t returned to his Milwaukee form, as some expected following his lone season with the Yankees.

Williams took over with a 4-1 advantage and tore right through the heart of the Phillies’ lineup, getting Bryce Harper on a ground ball to second base, Brandon Marsh on a line drive to left and Alec Bohm on strikes to end it. It has been a rough season overall for the Mets’ closer, sporting a 4.73 ERA, 1.67 WHIP and a 44/19 K/BB ratio over 32 innings while converting 14 of his first 17 save chances.

Williams gave up a leadoff single, but he then got a routine double play ball with one out, only for Francisco Lindor to boot it and retire no one. Two walks followed, with the second forcing in a run. Jarren Duran then hit a little popup behind second that dropped in. It was a ball that the second baseman would have handled if the infield hadn’t been drawn in, and Carson Benge came up just a tad short of catching it while racing in from right. That tied the game before Masataka Yoshida lined into a double play to prevent further damage. It’s Williams’ second blown save in a week, but while he owns the walks, this was much more Lindor’s doing than his.

It was mostly just job well done by the Braves. Ozzie Albies hit a double on a changeup low and out of the zone, and Matt Olsen followed by taking a 95-mph fastball up in the zone out the other way to left. The homer was the third allowed by Williams this season. He’ll certainly be down on Tuesday after throwing 52 pitches the last two days. Unless the Mets want to use Luke Weaver for a third straight day, Huascar Brazobán could close.

Williams thought he had the day off with the Mets up 10-3 in the ninth, but aided by some shoddy defense, the Braves scored five runs off Huascar Brazobán. Williams came in with one out and the bases empty after a Drake Baldwin grand slam and struck out Ozzie Albies before giving up three straight hits. The second of those should have been the third out, but Jared Young and Williams got too deliberate trying to pull off a 3-1 groundout and Michael Harris II beat it out. Williams finally finished off the game by striking out Dominic Smith with the winning run on second. It’s Williams’ 13th save in 14 tries. He threw 22 pitches, but since he did have four days off coming into this one, he’ll probably be available on Monday.

Williams hasn’t had a ton of save chances — tonight’s was his first in 12 days and fourth in June — but he’s gone over two months with blowing one. Luis Urías singled but was the only Blue Jays to reach in the ninth tonight.

They haven’t all been easy for Williams this season, and this was no exception. After striking out Edmundo Sosa to start the inning, he issued a one-out walk to Bryson Stott. Williams then battled back to get J.T. Realmuto to bounce into a fielder’s choice before Gabriel Rincones Jr. reached on an infield single to bring the tying run to the plate. He then allowed an RBI single to Justin Crawford before finally retiring Kyle Schwarber on a line drive to right to end it. Williams has now made good on 11 of his first 12 save chances on the season despite a miserable 5.24 ERA.

Williams was called upon in a tense situation in the eighth inning with runners on second and third in a three run game with two outs. He gave up a hit to Eli White there – that nearly went down the line if not for a diving effort from third baseman Brett Baty – then retired Rowdy Tellez to end that threat. Afterwards, Mauricio Dubón knocked a single in the ninth after a 14-pitch battle, but struck out Michael Harris and Matt Olson to close this one out. He’s now converted eight of his last nine save opportunities after what started out as a very choppy season.

There was no drama today in a one-run game. Williams was fortunate to face the bottom of the order and retired Jimmy Crooks, pinch-hitter Bryan Torres and Nathan Church in order. Williams still has a 5.32 ERA because of a pair of four-run outings, but he’s struck out 36 in 22 innings and has taken just one blown save.

Williams gave up a walk and a double with two outs before striking out Fernando Tatis Jr. to end things. The run is the first Williams has allowed in four appearances since his ugly May 24 outing against the Marlins, when he gave up a walkoff grand slam. He earned a save three days after that, but the Mets haven’t had any save chances in nine games since.