Diaz sits 1 out after meltdown
LOS ANGELES — Edwin Diaz recovered from what he called the “worst day of my career” by taking a day to rest during the Mets series finale against the Dodgers on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium. The Mets closer said he was “not able to go” after throwing 46 pitches over the past three days.
Diaz blew his save in epic fashion during a ninth-inning meltdown on Wednesday night. He entered the game with an 8-5 lead, but lost it in the Mets’ most brutal loss of the season.
“I was feeling great. I think I was throwing the ball really good,” Diaz said on Thursday. “I don’t know if they saw the same fastball from the night before. For me, it was great. I was making good pitches.”
Diaz was outmatched against the superior Dodgers lineup. Mickey Callaway and pitching coach Dave Eiland agreed with Diaz in that he was throwing his best pitches. The 23-year-old was surprised the Dodgers were able to square up his fastballs so effectively. The Dodgers own the second-best offense in the Major Leagues, hitting .264 with 88 homers as a team, while Cody Bellinger leads the National League in batting average (.378), RBI (52) and
WAR (5.3).
“It’s tough when you’re happy with how you throw the ball and things don’t go your way,” Diaz said. “It’s tough when you have a lead like that and blow the game.
“I’m facing great hitters. I think they’re ready to hit me. They know me a little bit more. They got a great team. They go back-to-back to the World Series. They are really good. I tip my hat to them.”
Diaz led the league in saves last season with 57, combined with a league-best 65 games finished. He posted a 1.96 ERA over 73.1 innings pitched in an All-Star year for the Mariners in 2018 and began his Mets season with a similar start. The right-hander was 12-12 in save opportunities before blowing his first save of the season Saturday against the Tigers.
Prior to Wednesday night’s meltdown, Diaz boasted a 1.64 ERA over 22 innings and 24 relief appearances. He saw his ERA jump to 3.22 after giving up back-to-back homers to Joc Pederson and Max Muncy and doubles to Justin Turner and Bellinger, as well as an infield single, before coughing up the game-winning sacrifice fly.
Diaz’s teammates reached out to him after the merciless outing to make sure the Dodgers do not alter his psyche.
“Everybody come talk to me,” Diaz said. “They say, ‘One bad game can’t change your mindset. You were pitching good all year. Just take this game and be ready for the next one.’”
ANY DAY NOW
Seth Lugo (right shoulder tendinitis) is expected to return from the injured list tonight for the Mets series opener against the D-backs in Arizona. The righty threw a 26-pitch bullpen session on Wednesday.