Mets' Edwin Diaz is sunshine peeking through club's cloudy start
Edwin Diaz of the Mets reacts after the final out of the ninth inning against the Brewers at Citi Field on Saturday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
He’s Mr. Brightside.
Very little has gone right for the Mets during their water-logged 0-4 start. But one thing that has is the return of closer Edwin Diaz.
Diaz, who missed last season after suffering a torn patella tendon during a celebration for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, has made two scoreless appearances in the Mets’ first four games.
Diaz has faced seven batters and retired six of them with three strikeouts.
In the Mets’ 7-6 loss to Milwaukee on Saturday, Diaz pitched a scoreless ninth inning in his first appearance since Oct. 9, 2022.
He entered to the familiar sounds of Timmy Trumpet’s song “Narco,” much to the delight of the crowd of 30,296.
Diaz allowed a two-out single to Brice Turang, who stole second and third base. But Jackson Chourio struck out swinging on a 90-mile per hour slider to end the inning.
On Monday, Diaz entered a scoreless game in the ninth inning to not only the trumpets, but also a new light show that illuminated Citi Field (and can be seen much better at night).
“It feels great,” Diaz said. “Feels cool. I could see the lights turning on and turning off. It was really nice.”
Diaz kept the game scoreless by throwing a perfect inning with two Ks. Zach McKinstry looked at a 97-mph fastball and Kerry Carpenter swung through a 91-mph slider for the first two outs before Spencer Torkelson hit a shallow fly ball to center that Francisco Lindor caught over his shoulder.
Unfortunately, the Mets did not score in the bottom of the ninth. Michael Tonkin allowed five unearned runs in the 10th and the Mets went on to a 5-0 defeat to fall to 0-4 before rain washed away games on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Tigers and Mets will play a single-admission doubleheader on Thursday beginning at 12:10 p.m.
After Monday’s game, Diaz — who threw 15 pitches in the ninth — said it was too early in his comeback to think about coming back out for a second inning. Overall, Diaz said he felt sharper in the second outing.
“I feel great,” he said. “Felt way better than the first game. I came and tried to keep the game close and give the team a chance to win. My confidence is high. Right now, I feel 100% ready to go.”
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, in his first week on the job, has faced four losses and three rainouts. About the only thing that has gone almost perfectly to plan is the sight of Diaz on the mound, albeit twice in non-save situations.
“I thought he threw the ball really well,” Mendoza said. “His slider was very effective. The fastball was alive. Throwing strikes. I thought he’s looked good in the two outings. We tried to win the game in the ninth. You use your best guy there, give you a chance to win in the ninth. You’re not thinking about extras. When your closer’s available, pitch him right there and try to win in the ninth.”
If the Mets are in position to have two save situations on Thursday, chances are Mendoza will have to go to someone else in the nightcap. The club doesn’t want to overuse Diaz this early in the season.
The good news — another bright side in what has been a dark first week for the Mets — is that setup men Adam Ottavino and Brooks Raley are well-rested. Ottavino has made one appearance and the lefty Raley has pitched twice.
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
