NEW YORK — Edwin Díaz stumbled again Monday night, the second game of a back-to-back for him. Sure, home-plate umpire Gabe Morales botched a couple of calls in the ninth inning, which made things harder, but the Díaz from 2022 probably would have overcome that kind of thing. This time, Díaz blew a save opportunity in the New York Mets’ 5-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies for a combination of things that all point to the elite closer just not being at his best.
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There’s a lack of command with his fastball and slider even though he has refound his velocity. There’s some rust after missing last season because of a knee injury. There’s even a small pitch-sequencing issue.
Díaz’s second blown save in his last three opportunities occurred after the Mets entered the ninth inning with a two-run lead.
After Díaz threw three consecutive sliders for a 2-1 count, Bryson Stott opened the ninth inning with a home run on a fastball a couple of inches off the plate. Díaz has allowed more home runs (four) this season than he did in all of 2022. The main concerns popped up afterward, though.
The next two batters reached on a single and a walk, but then Díaz retired the following two batters. With runners on first and second with two outs, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said he thought, “I like our chances here.” The feeling wouldn’t last.
On a 1-1 offering to Whit Merrifield, Morales called a ball on a pitch that appeared to be inside the strike zone. Díaz later referred to it as something that should’ve been called a strike. On a 3-1 pitch, Merrifield checked his swing in the eyes of Morales and was awarded first base via a walk.
“From the dugout, I thought he swung,” Mendoza said. “But at the end of the day, can’t walk him.”
Then, with the bases loaded and the count 0-2 to Alec Bohm, Díaz did something he rarely does: He shook off catcher Tomás Nido, who wanted a slider. Díaz had thrown two fastballs. In hindsight, Mendoza said the pitch should have been a slider, too. From Díaz’s perspective, a foul ball informed him that Bohm might have been sitting on a slider. But Bohm also could’ve just been on the fastball, just missing it. Instead of a slider, Díaz threw another fastball. It ran inside and hit Bohm, which tied it at 4 (the Phillies added a run in the 10th inning to win it). Díaz hates shaking off catchers and usually defers.
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“I did it today,” Díaz said, “and I paid the price.”
Health and velocity were not issues for Díaz. He said he felt great and was encouraged by the radar readings of a couple of 99 mph fastballs and an average velocity of 97.6 mph, up almost a full mph from his average this season (which has been a work in progress). With 16 outings already this year, Díaz said he didn’t want to use missing last season as an excuse for his struggles.
Still, the Mets have been cautious with Díaz — or as cautious as they could be with a healthy pitcher who figures to be their best reliever. The Mets have so far refrained from using Díaz in three straight games this season. But he has not fared well in back-to-back appearances.
On the second day of a back-to-back, he has allowed four earned runs, four walks and four hits in five innings. In all other appearances, he has allowed two earned runs, one walk and six hits in 11 2/3 innings.
Based on Mendoza’s comments after the game, don’t expect the Mets to scale back Díaz’s workload. It would be hard for the Mets not to use their closer in such a way, anyway.
“As long as he’s feeling good — we’re talking to all of them every day, checking with them — but no, he’s used to it,” Mendoza said. “It’s not like it’s a lack of velo or anything like that. He’s just going through it right now.”
The Mets’ bullpen has emerged as a strength, but to make a run at a wild card, the club needs Díaz to be a sure thing in the final innings. Relievers and coaches attributed their collective success this season to his return; his presence puts things in a tidy order. Díaz’s season ERA increased to 3.24, which isn’t terrible at this point but doesn’t compare to his unworldly 2022 season when he earned Cy Young Award votes with a 1.31 ERA. Few expected Díaz to replicate that extreme level of success, but he’s at least capable of pitching better than he has this season.
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“I have to do my job better, I think,” Díaz said. “I will work hard enough in the bullpen to get back in my form.”
Added Mendoza: “He’s going through it right now. Look, he’s one of the better ones in the game, if not the best one. He will continue to get big outs for us, and he will get through it.”
(Top photo: Gregory Fisher / USA Today)