NEWS

SOCIAL STATS VIDEOS

NEWS

SOCIAL STATS VIDEOS

NEWS

SOCIAL STATS VIDEOS

No official closer tag Diaz expects to close games for the Mets this season, though the team hasn't named an official closer and may not do so, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Impact It's hard to post more closer-worthy numbers than the ones Diaz managed last season, as he struck out 45.5 percent of opposing batters en route to a 1.75 ERA. Two of the five earned runs he allowed all season came in his first three outings, however, and combined with his 2019 struggles that proved to be enough for the Mets to drop him from closing duties for much of the year. He finished with just six saves. He remains the team's clear top reliever (especially with Seth Lugo likely to miss time following elbow surgery), but there's no guarantee he remains a true closer all season given the Mets' tendency to lose faith in him. Manager Luis Rojas kept open the possibility of using a more modern approach, sending Diaz out earlier in the game if a high-leverage situation pops up before the ninth or perhaps playing the matchups in the final frame, which could also limit his save numbers.

FEBRUARY 23 • ROTOWIRE

Agrees to one-year deal Diaz and the Mets avoided arbitration Friday by agreeing to a one-year, $7 million deal, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

Impact Diaz didn't manage to keep the closer job all season last year thanks to some early-season struggles, but his year-end numbers represented quite an impressive bounceback from his poor 2019 campaign. He finished the year with a career-low 1.75 ERA and a career-high 45.5 percent strikeout rate, presumably setting himself up quite well to be the Mets' closer again in 2021.

JANUARY 15 • ROTOWIRE

Notches sixth save Diaz gave up a run on two hits in the ninth inning Thursday against the Nationals but escaped with his sixth save of the season. He struck out one batter.

Impact Diaz's streak of consecutive scoreless appearances ended at 10, but he eventually shut the door, making him 4-for-4 in save chances this month. The right-hander has a sparkling 1.80 ERA overall this season, though he lost the closer role for a while early on and it took Seth Lugo returning to the rotation for him to get it back. Diaz faces an uncertain future with the organization.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Diaz prospering in closer's role for Mets Admit it: When Edwin Diaz comes into a game now, you expect him to get outs. The Mets’ talented but erratic closer has become something of a...

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 • NEWSDAY.COM

Continues dominant run Diaz worked around a base hit to turn in a scoreless ninth inning en route to notching his fifth save of the season Tuesday in the Mets' 5-2 win over the Rays.

Impact Diaz also struck out a batter in the 16-pitch outing, his 10th straight scoreless appearance. During that span, Diaz has compiled an eye-popping 20 strikeouts in 11 innings while allowing four hits and six walks. Manager Luis Rojas hasn't formally appointed a new closer since Seth Lugo joined the rotation in mid-August, but Diaz's usage (and success) in recent weeks suggests he's recaptured the job.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Tallies another save Wednesday Diaz pitched a scoreless ninth Wednesday, allowing one hit and striking out three to earn his fourth save of the season.

Impact Diaz was called upon in the ninth to preserve a one-run lead after the Mets went ahead in the top half of the inning and struck out the side. After a rocky 2019, Diaz has returned to dominant form with a 1.71 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 45:11 K:BB across 21 innings this season.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Earns third save Diaz pitched a scoreless ninth Wednesday against the Orioles, allowing a hit while striking out a batter as he picked up save No. 3 on the season.

Impact Diaz allowed a quick single to begin the frame but retired the next three batters for his third save in six attempts. Despite being unable to consistently pick up saves, Diaz sports a 1.89 ERA along with a 39:11 K:BB across 19 innings and is locked into the team's closer role.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Lennon: Is Miguel Castro the new Edwin Diaz? Well, it wasn’t Edwin Diaz. Small consolation, I know. But Diaz did his job Monday with a perfect ninth inning, a task that he hasn’t comple...

SEPTEMBER 7, 2020 • NEWSDAY.COM

Picks up win in extras Diaz (2-1) recorded the win in Thursday's extra-inning victory over the Yankees, walking one and striking out four over two scoreless innings of relief.

Impact Both bullpens were shaky in the late innings -- eight of the 16 runs scored on the night came in the seventh inning or later -- but Diaz was the notable exception, blanking the Yanks in the ninth and 10th frames to set the stage for Pete Alonso's walkoff blast. The right-hander seems to have finally gotten comfortable as a Met and may be rediscovering the form he flashed in 2018 as a Mariner. Since the beginning of August, Diaz has a 1.32 ERA and massive 29:6 K:BB over 13.2 innings.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Charged with Game 1 loss Diaz (1-1) allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk while striking out zero over one inning as he was charged with the loss during Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader aga...

Impact Diaz had put together scoreless outings in nine of his past 10 outings, but he was charged with his third blown save of the season Sunday as he allowed a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning. He remained in the game for the eighth inning but allowed a walkoff single. The right-hander now carries a 2.77 ERA as he's converted two of his five save opportunities this season.

AUGUST 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Earns second save Diaz (leg) tossed one clean inning while striking out three as he earned the save during the first game of Friday's doubleheader against the Yankees.

Impact Diaz left Wednesday's game while dealing with leg cramps, but he returned to the mound to pick up the save Friday. He should be available going forward as he now carries a 2.25 ERA over 12 innings this season.

AUGUST 29, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with leg cramps Diaz was removed from Wednesday's game against the Marlins with left leg cramps, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Impact The 26-year-old exited the game after a visit from the athletic trainer, but the fact it's leg cramps is good news for the Mets. Diaz wanted to continue pitching, but manager Luis Rojas said the team didn't want to take any chances. The right-hander should be considered day-to-day, but he may not be sidelined for long, if at all.

AUGUST 26, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Leaves with apparent injury Diaz exited Wednesday's game against the Marlins with an apparent injury, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Impact The right-hander entered during the eighth inning with the bases loaded and one out, and he had a strikeout and gave up a single and a walk before being lifted during the middle of an at-bat. It's unclear what type of injury Diaz was dealing with, and he should be considered day-to-day until more information is available.

AUGUST 26, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

New York Mets: Edwin Diaz is back to form Don't look now, but Edwin Diaz is once again looking like the closer that the New York Mets had hoped for. To say that Edwin Diaz had a roug...

AUGUST 26, 2020 • CALLTOTHEPEN.COM

Earns first win of 2020 Diaz (1-0) walked a batter but struck out four while giving up no hits in 1.1 innings as the Mets took care of the Marlins 5-3 Wednesday evening.

Impact Diaz was called upon to enter in the eighth inning after Dellin Betances found himself in a two-out bases-loaded jam. Although wild at times, Diaz had his stuff working Wednesday as he struck out Jonathan Villar to escape trouble in the eighth and then struck out the side in the ninth to seal the victory for the Mets. The 26-year-old righty has given up just one run while owning an impressive 19:2 K:BB through 8.1 innings since Aug. 2, and could start seeing save chances again with Seth Lugo moving back into the rotation.

AUGUST 20, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Returning to closer's role? Diaz could operate as the Mets' closer with Seth Lugo moving to the starting rotation Thursday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Impact Lugo converted three of his five save chances with a 2.61 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 11:2 K:BB this season, but the Mets want to see if he can translate that success into the rotation. Diaz allowed runs in two of his first three outings of the season to fall out of favor, but he's given up only one run and has a 19:2 K:BB in his past eight appearances (8.1 innings), including 1.1 scoreless frames to earn the win Wednesday against the Marlins. The Mets haven't made any official declarations regarding their plans for the ninth inning, but Diaz is the logical option given his pedigree and current form.

AUGUST 20, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Sixth straight scoreless outing Diaz allowed one hit and struck out two in a scoreless eighth inning during Thursday's 8-2 win over the Nationals.

Impact It marked Diaz's sixth straight scoreless outing. Diaz's strong performance of late could lead to a return to the closer role eventually. Seth Lugo has earned the Mets' last three saves.

AUGUST 14, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Out of closer role Diaz's last two appearances have come with the Mets trailing. He has three strikeouts while allowing zero hits and one walk in two scoreless frames over that span.

Impact Seth Lugo picked up the save Wednesday, and given Diaz's usage of late, it seems like Lugo is the guy to roster in that bullpen right now. There is no denying that Diaz has the stuff to close, but he also doesn't have the trust of manager Luis Rojas.

AUGUST 7, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Mets' Rojas not saying if Diaz losing hold on closer's role New York Mets manager Luis Rojas says he wants to get Edwin Diaz back on the mound quickly

JULY 31, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

The New York Mets’ Edwin Diaz experiment should end now At this point, Edwin Diaz is who he is. And he's burned the New York Mets often enough that it's clearly time for a change. The definition o...

JULY 31, 2020 • FANSIDED.COM

Mets' Rojas: 'We need to work' to get struggling Diaz back on track Edwin Diaz's tumultuous New York Mets tenure took another ugly turn Thursday when the former All-Star closer turned in a wild ninth inning a...

JULY 31, 2020 • THESCORE.COM

Closing job could be in jeopardy Diaz struck out one batter while allowing one earned run on one hit and two walks in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Red Sox.

Impact Rojas said he was "definitely not concerned" with Diaz after he blew the save in Saturday's loss to the Braves, but that stance has clearly shifted after another rough outing Thursday. The mets skipper wasn't decisive in whether or not Diaz will keep his closer job. However, Rojas did say the Mets brass is going to discuss the reliever's usage in high-leverage situations moving forward, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Seth Lugo seems likely to take over the closing duties if the Mets do indeed decide to move away from Diaz in the ninth.

JULY 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Collects four-out save Lugo earned his first save of the season, pitching a perfect 1.1 innings with one strikeout in Monday's 7-4 win over the Red Sox.

Impact Lugo was able to finish the eighth inning with a runner on first by striking out Christian Vazquez. The right-hander then induced three groundouts to complete the save in the ninth. With regular closer Edwin Diaz faltering in his last outing Saturday versus the Braves, Lugo's strong start to 2020 could see him in the mix for more saves going forward.

JULY 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Lennon: Same old long story with Diaz Marcell Ozuna’s save-demolishing home run off Edwin Diaz in the ninth inning of the Mets’ 5-3 loss to the Braves on Saturday should not have...

JULY 26, 2020 • NEWSDAY.COM

Diaz blows save in ninth, Mets fall to Braves in 2020-style extras If Opening Day was a perfectly scripted dream for the Mets, Day Two was nightmare — with distinct 2019 and 2020 vibes in a 5-3 loss to the B...

JULY 25, 2020 • NEWSDAY.COM