New York Mets pitcher Edwin Diaz is set to return from the injured list on Thursday after dealing with a right shoulder impingement. However, there were questions about what role he would return to once he could get back on the mound.
According to manager Carlos Mendoza, Edwin Diaz will be returning to his role as the team’s closer. Despite his struggles this season, the New York Mets know if they want any chance at making a postseason run, they need him on top of his game.
“For us to make a run at this, we’re going to need Díaz to be Edwin Díaz,” Mendoza said Wednesday before a 10-4 victory over Miami. “We’ve been trying to piece it together for the past month or so. He feels good physically and mentally, so comfortable with him going back to the closer spot.”
Before being placed on the injured list on May 29th, Edwin Diaz had blown three straight save chances and four out of his last five. That doesn’t even include a four-run lead he blew against the Miami Marlins on May 18th, as that wasn’t categorized as a blown save.
While Mendoza is correct that the New York Mets need Diaz performing at a high level, part of the reason he is taking over the closer’s role again is that no one else has risen to the occasion. Adam Ottavino and Reed Garrett, two of the other options to close, have both performed poorly in recent stretches as well.
Over 20 appearances this season, Edwin Diaz has recorded only five saves, going 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA. He has not quite found his dominant form from 2022 after missing the entire 2023 season because of a knee injury suffered in the World Baseball Classic.
During his rehab assignment, he looked more like the Diaz of old. He made two appearances with High-A Brooklyn, striking out three over two scoreless innings. A bullpen session was thrown on Tuesday as well.
“Pretty confident that he’s in a good spot and he’ll get going here,” Mendoza said.
The New York Mets are currently 29-37, 16.5 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East. In the log jam Wild Card race, they are only 3.5 games behind. All but two teams are in the playoff race still in the NL, as one hot streak from the Mets could vault them up the standings.
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