- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Nifty 50: Jeurys Familia’s saves streak continues
- Updated: July 23, 2016
12:21 AM ET
It wasn’t easy, but that has been Jeurys Familia’s way during his streak of 50 straight regular-season save chances converted.
Familia is the fourth pitcher to convert 50 in a row since the save rule was enacted in 1969. He joins Eric Gagne (84 from 2002 to 2004), Tom Gordon (54 from 1998 to 1999) and Jose Valverde (2010 to 2011). He passed John Axford (49 straight from 2011 to 2012) for fourth with his save Friday in the New York Mets win over the Marlins.
Familia’s WHIP during the streak is 1.05, the highest of any of the five pitchers who converted the most consecutive saves.
Familia has a major-league leading 34 saves this season but has done so with a 2.58 ERA and 1.26 WHIP — not quite as good as his 1.85 ERA and 1.00 WHIP last season. One culprit has been an increase in walks. He has 18 in 45 1/3 innings this season, one fewer than he had in 78 innings in 2015.
Key pitch: Sinking fastball
Although Familia’s fastball velocity has dropped 1 mph from last season to 96 mph, the pitch is still a nasty one. It has a vertical drop of 15.4 feet per second as it crosses …
continue reading in source espn.go.com
