On messing with perfection
Andrés Muñoz enters the dead zone
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 05: Andres Munoz #75 of the Seattle Mariners reacts while taking the mound during the ninth inning against the Atlanta Braves at T-Mobile Park on May 05, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jack Compton/Getty Images) | Getty Images Andrés Muñoz changed for some reason. It’s been a rough early going for the Mariners’ star closer.
Muñoz has a 6. 00 ERA and has already allowed more home runs (three) than he did all of last season (two). He’s been pinned with five “meltdowns,” or outings where his WPA was less than to -0.
06 — basically, a more comprehensive version of blown saves. Batters have a 50% hard hit rate against him and a . 533 xwOBAcon, which ranks next to last among pitchers with at least 15 innings pitched.
Despite all the hard contact, Muñoz is still getting tons of whiffs and strikeouts. His 42. 7% whiff rate is the best in baseball — except for Mason Miller’s anti-human 57.
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