Diaz will begin serving his 10-game foreign substance suspension Tuesday after declining to appeal the ruling, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
While adamant he didn't use anything illegal, Diaz likely stood little chance of winning an appeal, so he'll get the suspension over with now. The closer will be eligible to return July 6. Adam Ottavino, Jake Diekman and Reed Garrett are candidates for save chances while Diaz is unavailable.
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Mets' Edwin Diaz: Handed 10-game suspension
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Major League Baseball suspended Diaz for 10 games Monday for violating prohibitions on foreign substances, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Diaz was ejected from Sunday's 5-2 win over the Cubs after failing the "sticky substance" test from the crew chief upon entering the game in the bottom of the ninth inning. The suspension will go into effect beginning with Tuesday's game against the Yankees, and assuming he elects not to appeal the ban, the 30-year-old closer won't be eligible to pitch until July 6 against the Pirates. Adam Ottavino and Reed Garrett will be the likely candidates to step in for save opportunities during Diaz's absence.
Diaz was ejected from Sunday's game against the Cubs for the use of an illegal substance following an inspection from the crew chief, Pat Ragazzo of SI.com reports.
Diaz failed the "sticky substance" check upon entering the game in the bottom of the ninth inning with the Mets up 5-2. If MLB concurs with the crew chief's assessment, Diaz will receive an automatic 10-game suspension, so the Mets may be without their closer for some time. Expect a decision on a suspension to be announced before the Mets' next game Tuesday versus the Yankees. Reed Garrett and Adam Ottavino would likely be first in line for saves should Diaz receive a 10-game ban and choose not to appeal.
Diaz earned the save in Tuesday's 7-6 victory over San Francisco, firing a scoreless inning during which he allowed one hit.
After an RBI double by Pete Alonso provided New York with the lead in the top of the ninth inning, Diaz entered in the bottom of the frame to gather his second save since returning from the injured list June 13. The flamethrowing closer yielded a leadoff single to Jonah Heim before inducing a groundball double play and flyout for his seventh save this season. After struggling with an 8.68 ERA over 9.1 innings in May, Diaz looks healthy again and has regained control of the Mets' closer role.
Diaz (2-1) struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Thursday to pick up the win over the Marlins.
The right-hander looked good in his first appearance since May 25, topping out at 99.6 mph with his fastball. Diaz had been on the IL with a shoulder impingement before being activated Thursday, but he hadn't been his usual dominant self even before getting shut down -- so far in 2024 he has a 16.7 percent whiff rate, one of the lowest marks of his career and a massive drop from the 25.2 percent rate he delivered in 2022. While his results were impressive Thursday, Diaz managed only two swinging strikes on 15 pitches, suggesting that he may not be fully back in form yet.
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Mets' Edwin Diaz: Secures sixth save
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Diaz gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to record his sixth save of the season in a 2-1 win over the Padres.
A leadoff single by Jurickson Profar and a stolen base by pinch runner Jose Azocar created another nervous ninth for the Mets, but Diaz buckled down after that and fanned Manny Machado and Jake Cronenworth to preserve the win. Diaz's velocity appears to be all the way back -- his fastest pitch Friday hit 100 mph -- and he's looked to be in just about peak form in two appearances since recovering from a shoulder impingement. The 30-year-old right-hander is just 6-for-10 in converting save chances in 2024, but as long as he's healthy he should be locked in as the Mets' closer.
