As Mets’ Edwin Diaz Nears Activation, Manager Clarifies the Closer’s Role

Home - USA - As Mets’ Edwin Diaz Nears Activation, Manager Clarifies the Closer’s Role
As Mets’ Edwin Diaz Nears Activation, Manager Clarifies the Closer’s Role
USA
  • June 12, 2024
Dak PionBy Dak Pion - 1 year ago
0 95 2 minutes read


The New York Mets are getting their closer back.

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On Wednesday, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza spoke to reporters and said All-Star closer Edwin Diaz will be activated off the injured list on Thursday. Moreover, Diaz will be returning to his closer role, despite his struggles this season, per The Athletic’s Tim Healey.

Diaz was placed on the injured list on May 29 with a right shoulder impingement. Before going on the IL, he was in the midst of a rough stretch, blowing four saves in the month of May. Diaz saw his season ERA skyrocket from 2.53 to 5.40 in May, and he ended the month on the injured list after allowing eight earned runs in his final five appearances (4.1 innings pitched).

Mets pitcher Edwin Diaz
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 24: Edwin Díaz #39 of the New York Mets reacts after pitching d during the seventh inning against the San Francisco Giants at Citi Field on May 24, 2024…


Sarah Stier/Getty Images

While Diaz struggled to end May, Mendoza isn’t giving up on his two-time All-Star closer. Diaz will retake the reins as New York’s closer and will look to shore up a bullpen that has struggled in his absence.

The Mets had a bullpen ERA of 3.55 through May 25 — Diaz’s last appearance — which ranked seventh in all of Major League Baseball. Since then, they have a bullpen ERA of 4.64, which ranks 23rd in MLB.

The Mets enter Wednesday’s game against the Miami Marlins at 28-37, a whopping 17.5 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies for first place in the National League East. However, with the majority of MLB teams struggling this year, the Mets are just 3.5 games back of the third and final Wild Card spot in the NL.

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The Mets will have some big decisions to make over the next few weeks as the July 30 trade deadline nears. Superstar first baseman Pete Alonso is an impending free agent and could bring back a haul if moved at the deadline.

However, if the Mets think they can win this year, they could flip the script and add pieces at the deadline. With the Wild Card race wide open, there’s no telling what owner Steve Cohen and the Mets will do.

These next few weeks will be crucial for the rest of the Mets’ 2024 season. And with Diaz coming back, they’ll see if they truly have the necessary pieces to compete for a potential postseason spot.

If not, there could be a massive fire sale in New York this summer.