New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz missed all of last season after suffering a patellar tendon injury in the World Baseball Classic last year, so it has been great to see him back on the mound so far and looking mostly like his old self.
With that much time off, it’s natural that there’s some rust he has to knock off, and his rough stretch lately has been tough to watch as he continues to work to get back to the old Edwin Diaz.
Diaz blew his second save in his last three opportunities last night after allowing a leadoff home run to Bryson Stott and walking two batters before bringing in the game-tying run on a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded.
It was also the third home run he has given up in his last six appearances and fourth in the last month, which is already more than he gave up in either of the 2021 or 2022 seasons.
The Mets wound up losing this one to the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-4, in ten innings after Diaz labored through the ninth and allowed the Phillies to tie things up.
He threw 30 pitches and gave up two runs while giving up two hits, two walks, and the hit-by-pitch.
There’s no need to worry just yet, but it’s always a painful way to lose and this team is heavily relying on its pitching staff right now with nearly the entire offense off to a slow start.
Diaz’s velocity is still there, but his control hasn’t been.
Don’t worry, Mets fans.
Diaz will figure it out.
