Mets Season In Review: Josh Smoker

By Christopher Kaufman
Aug 27, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Josh Smoker (59) reacts after the last out in the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 27, 2016; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Josh Smoker (59) reacts after the last out in the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next

How he fared in 2016

In 2016, Smoker appeared in 20 games, including many important spots down the stretch. He’d finish with 3-0 record and 4.70 ERA while striking out 25 in 15.1 innings.

Smoker’s Major League debut, 9 years after he was drafted in 2007, occurred on August 19, 2016 against the San Francisco Giants.

He gave up 2 runs, 1 earned in a third of an inning in his debut. Including this game he gave up at least a run in 3 of his first 4 appearances. After this, however, he gave up a run in only 2 of his last 16 appearances, many of those in important games down the stretch in the Mets’ pursuit of a Wild Card berth.

Smoker’s strikeout numbers were very impressive as well. He struck out 25 batters in only 15.1 innings translating to an impressive 14.7 K/9. His first Major League win came ten days after his debut on August 29th as he pitched a perfect 10th in a Mets 2-1 win against the Marlins. He would add two more to finish the season 3-0 out of the bullpen.

Josh had strange lefty/righty split in 2016; the complete opposite of most lefties that come out of the bullpen. Lefties in 25 ABs had a .360 batting average and 1.048 OPS against him and only struck out seven times. His numbers against righties, however, were excellent. In 35 ABs against Smoker, they hit .200 with only a .594 OPS with 18 Ks.

facebooktwitterreddit