2017 Mets Season Review: It’s a miracle Jerry Blevins still has a functioning left arm

It should come as no surprise to anyone paying attention that Jerry Blevins appeared in 75 games for the Mets this year, tied for fourth most in all of baseball. It shouldn’t surprise you that Blevins appeared in 15 of the team’s first 23 games, or that he had a nearly three-to-one strikeout to walk ratio, or that he had by far the best nickname on his jersey during Player’s Weekend. The only surprising fact about Jerry Blevins in 2017 is that he somehow didn’t get hurt pitching as frequently as he did.

Blevins, along with Addison Reed and, to a lesser extent Paul Sewald and Josh Smoker, seemed to always be coming into games, sometimes in lopsided affairs when it made no sense whatsoever, and sometimes to play the hero. Blevins was more the hero than the goat this year, giving up just 16 runs in 49 innings, and striking out 69 while walking just 24.

Against lefties, Blevins was incredibly successful, limiting them to just 24 hits—with just one extra-base hit, a double—in 132 plate appearances. Blevins recorded 48 strikeouts when facing left handed hitting, striking out the batter nearly 40 percent of the time and only walking six.

Against right-handed hitters, Blevins was less effective, walking 18 against 21 strikeouts, but he still limited hitters to just 19 hits in 85 plate appearances, though nine of those were extra-base hits.

Blevins has a team option for 2018 on his contract and, hopefully with a manager in tow that won’t overwork him as frequently, is a no-brainer to bring back.