Edwin Díaz had been looking forward to this moment, and so had the New York Mets.
After tearing a knee during a postgame celebration for a Puerto Rico win at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, the Mets closer had to be careful. He missed a whole season and needed to work on his skills and fitness.
With the Mets in the playoff race and the regular season nearing its end, manager Carlos Mendoza called on the 30-year-old right-hander to pitch the eighth inning against the top hitters of the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday night. He then let Díaz stay on for the ninth inning.
“We’ve been protecting him the whole year and now it’s big boys time,” Mendoza said.
Díaz managed to leave Trea Turner at third base when Alec Bohm grounded out in the eighth inning and Bryson Stott at third when Kody Clemens struck out in the ninth, securing a 2-1 victory. This was Díaz’s second career six-out save, and his first since August 4, 2022.
“What we’ve seen lately with him, he’s just 2022,” Mendoza said.
After being six games behind in the wild card race on May 29 with a record of 22-33, the Mets have surged into the second NL wild card spot, ahead of Arizona by a tiebreaker.
They also have a two-game lead over the Braves as they prepare for a three-game series in Atlanta starting Tuesday.
“I’ve been throwing the fastball the way I want to. My slider is coming on really good,” Díaz said. “Early in the season, I wasn’t playing the way that everyone was expecting. Now I’m coming out and closing games. When they give me the ball, I’m doing my job.”
A two-time All-Star, Díaz has achieved 20 saves in 26 opportunities and has successfully saved six games in a row since giving up a grand slam to Corbin Carroll during an 8-5 loss to Arizona on August 28.
He threw 17 pitches in a four-out save that completed Saturday’s 6-3 win and used 30 more on Sunday.
“You protect him the whole year. Early on, you stay away from back-to-backs and three out of four, because of situations like this, so when we do need him, he’s going to be ready to go,” Mendoza said.
“He’s coming off a major injury, missed a whole year, struggled at the beginning, had a rough month of May, but he’s an elite closer. He’s one of the best in the game.”
Díaz gave up a tying home run to Tampa Bay’s Randy Arozarena on May 5. Then, on May 13, he lost a two-run lead against Philadelphia when Bryson Stott hit a home run to start the ninth inning, and Díaz hit Alec Bohm with a pitch, allowing the tying run to score.
Three days later, Stott got another tying hit off Díaz, and on May 25, Díaz allowed a tying single to LaMonte Wade Jr. of San Francisco.
Díaz had to sit out until June 13 because of right shoulder impingement. He then allowed a go-ahead, two-run single to Nick Gonzales from Pittsburgh on July 7 before he started to find his rhythm.
“I’m so, so proud of him because it’s taken a lot of mental toughness to do what he’s done,” said Brandon Nimmo, whose sixth-inning homer helped the Mets take the lead on Sunday.
Díaz began the eighth inning by throwing a called third strike past Kyle Schwarber. He gave up a soft single to Trea Turner, who stole second base.
Díaz struck out Bryce Harper with a high, inside fastball, and after Turner stole third, he got Bohm out to finish a tough 12-pitch inning.
When Díaz got back to the dugout, Mendoza informed him that he would pitch the ninth inning. Díaz paced around the clubhouse and drank water to stay warm.
In the ninth, he first got Nick Castellanos to fly out, but then walked Stott, who stole second. Díaz struck out J.T. Realmuto using a fastball and two sliders, the last one coming as Stott stole third.
The Mets were lucky when catcher Francisco Alvarez’s throw hit the base and dropped near third baseman Mark Vientos instead of going into left field.
After Brandon Marsh walked, Mendoza visited the mound to remind Díaz that Marsh might try to steal second, but also to check on how Díaz was feeling.
“I just wanted to make sure that he was feeling good because I was pushing him,” Mendoza said.
Díaz then struck out Kody Clemens with a pitch that reached 98.3 mph for his 20th save in 26 chances. He celebrated by screaming and pumping his arms, showing that he was back to his best.
“I got to be ready every single day,” he said.
