MIAMI — Jeurys Familia’s attempt at resurrecting his season will include a steady oversight from a trusted presence.
In deciding on a new bullpen coach last month, team officials put a heavy emphasis on Ricky Bones’ past working relationship with Familia, according to a club source. Familia has a 7.50 ERA in his nightmarish season, but has pitched just three times since Bones returned to his old job (Bones had been demoted within the organization last winter after seven seasons as the team’s bullpen coach). Bones replaced Chuck Hernandez, who was fired along with pitching coach Dave Eiland.
“It’s good that everyone knows [Bones] here, he knows most of the guys in this room so he has a good idea if we have to work on something because he’s been here so many years,” Familia said before the Mets beat the Marlins, 4-2, on Saturday, a game in which he did not pitch.
The bullpen entered play with a 5.64 ERA that ranked 28th in the major leagues. Over the previous 38 games, the bullpen had a 7.64 ERA.
“Everybody in the bullpen is going to have a way better second half,” Familia said.
Noah Syndergaard, who allowed two runs in seven innings, improved to 7-1 with a 1.83 ERA in 10 career starts against the Marlins.
The right-hander also extended his streak of innings without allowing a homer against Miami to 60. The last Marlins player to homer against Syndergaard was Marcell Ozuna on June 3, 2016.
Steven Matz threw a simulated game upon the Mets’ return from the All-Star break to sharpen up for his return to the rotation Wednesday in Minnesota. The left-hander is not considered as an option to pitch in relief before then. Matz made two relief appearances in the final week of the first half.
Anthony Kay had a strong performance for Triple-A Syracuse on Friday, allowing one run over 5 ¹/₃ innings against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in a no-decision. The left-hander had struggled in his previous four appearances since his promotion from Double-A Binghamton.



