Edwin Díaz’s role with the New York Mets has become fluid after the closer’s messy blown save against Miami.
The two-time All-Star has blown two consecutive save chances and three of his last four, the latest when he squandered a four-run lead in the ninth inning of Saturday’s 10-inning loss.
“He’ll do whatever it takes to help this team win a baseball game, whether that’s pitching in the seventh, eighth and ninth, losing, winning.,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Sunday. “Now it’s up to me and all of us as the game progresses to make the decision where I want to use him.”
In the second season of a $102 million, five-year contract, Díaz has a 10.80 ERA over his last eight appearances after allowing four homers in 8 1/3 innings. The 30-year-old right-hander has a 5.50 season ERA.
“I’m open to everything,” Díaz said Saturday. “I want to help my team to win. That’s my main thing. If they want to talk to me about that and I feel good about it, I agree on it. I just want to win games in any position they put me.”
Díaz saved 32 games and struck out 118 over 62 innings to help the Mets to 101 wins and an NL-wild card berth in 2022. He tore his right patellar tendon while celebrating a victory with Puerto Rico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and missed the entire season.
“At the end of the day, Edwin is a huge part of this team,” Mendoza said. “We’re going to need Edwin Díaz to be himself. Right now, he’s going through a rough stretch. Our job is to get him back on track.”
Mendoza said slugger J.D. Martinez would not play Sunday because of illness after feeling symptoms the prior two days. Outfielder Brandon Nimmo missed two games earlier in the week because of illness.
“A couple of guys are feeling it, they’ve been playing through it,” Mendoza said.
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