The New York Mets don’t believe Devin Williams is broken. They believe he is close.
That distinction matters because Williams’ early-season struggles have become one of the most uncomfortable problems on a roster already dealing with too much instability. The Mets built their bullpen around the idea that Williams could end games, shorten nights, and restore order. Instead, he has become one of the clearest symbols of a team still searching for answers.
But according to reporting from Dan Martin of the New York Post, the Mets are not treating Williams’ rough start like a crisis that requires a role change. They are treating it like a mechanical problem that can still be fixed.
And if they are right, the bullpen conversation changes quickly.
Mets Believe Williams Is Closer Than He Looks
GettyDevin Williams #38 of the New York Mets reacts during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citi Field on March 28, 2026 in the Queens borough of New York City. The New York Mets won 4-2. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
Williams spent Thursday night reviewing video with Mets pitching coaches, trying to identify what has gone wrong during a stretch that has looked nothing like his peak form. Manager Carlos Mendoza told the New York Post that Williams is not feeling sorry for himself and remains engaged in the process.
That matters because the results have been ugly.
Williams had been scored upon in four straight appearances before Friday’s 4-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies, a game in which he did not pitch. He also had allowed multiple baserunners in six consecutive outings, turning nearly every appearance into a high-stress inning.
For a closer, that is dangerous. For a Mets team already trying to recover from a 12-game losing streak, it is even worse.
Still, Mendoza made it clear that Williams will continue receiving opportunities in the ninth inning. That confidence is not blind loyalty. It is a bet on the track record.
Williams has been one of baseball’s most dominant relievers before. His changeup has been one of the most feared pitches in the sport. The Mets are betting that version is still there, even if the current one looks unrecognizable.
The Changeup Is the Real Concern
GettyDevin Williams #38 of the New York Mets reacts after a strikeout during the ninth inning of a game against the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field on April 23, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Heather Khalifa/Getty Images)
The biggest issue is not difficult to identify.
Williams’ changeup, the pitch that built his reputation, has not been the same weapon this season. President of baseball operations David Stearns told the New York Post that the pitch has not been exactly where Williams wants it. That may sound like a small detail, but for Williams, it is everything.
His entire profile depends on deception, movement, and hitters reacting too late. When the changeup loses its shape or command, the rest of the arsenal becomes easier to survive.
That is what has happened.
Hitters are no longer being overwhelmed by the pitch. They are doing damage to it. And because his four-seam fastball has not been dominant enough to cover for that decline, Williams has been left without his usual escape route.
Pitching coach Justin Willard, though, pushed back against the idea that the problem is emotional or tied to New York pressure. He told the Post that Williams has “the slowest heartbeat” he has ever been around and said the issue is not the atmosphere.
That quote is important because Williams’ struggles in New York can easily become a narrative. He had difficulty as a closer in The Bronx. Now he is struggling in Queens. The easy conclusion would be that the market is too much.
The Mets clearly do not believe that.
They believe this is about execution, not makeup.
The Bullpen Gives Mets Little Choice
GettyDevin Williams #38 of the New York Mets reacts as he exits the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium on April 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
The Mets also need Williams to be right because the rest of the bullpen is not stable enough to absorb a prolonged closer problem.
Martin noted that New York has been using David Peterson, Sean Manaea, and Tobias Myers in relief, even though all three are rotation options. Mendoza admitted that the setup may not be sustainable, and Manaea’s 61-pitch relief outing on Friday only reinforced the concern.
That creates a difficult balance.
The Mets cannot afford to keep giving away late leads. But they also cannot afford to panic with Williams unless they have a cleaner alternative. Right now, they do not.
That is why the “minor tweaks” framing matters. It allows the Mets to stay patient without pretending the results are acceptable. It also gives Williams a path back to being more than just another struggling arm.
For the Mets, this is not just about one reliever fixing one pitch. It is about whether one of their most important offseason bets can still stabilize a season that already feels fragile.
Williams does not need to become something new.
He just needs to look like Devin Williams again.
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