Edwin Díaz to Remain Mets Closer Despite 4th Blown Save of 2024, Carlos Mendoza Says
Rich Storry/Getty Images
The New York Mets are sticking by closer Edwin Díaz despite some struggles in 2024.
Díaz blew his fourth save opportunity of the season on Saturday against the San Francisco Giants, with the Mets falling 7-2 despite leading 2-1 in the ninth inning. Despite this, it does not appear that Díaz will lose his role in the bullpen again.
“He’s our closer,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said, per Jorge Castillo of ESPN. “In order for us to win games and get to where we want to get to, he’s got to pitch. And I felt like that was the right spot.”
Mendoza continued by saying that he would not “hide” Díaz and would allow the reliever to work through the struggles.
“He’s got to continue to pitch,” Mendoza said. “My job is to continue to find lanes for him and we’ve got to fight through it. You can’t hide him. He’s got to go, he’s got to pitch. He’s too good of a pitcher and we’re pretty confident that he’ll turn it around.”
Díaz was reportedly demoted from the closer role last week, although that situation was described as “fluid.”
He has made 19 appearances in 2024, sporting a 1-1 record with a 5.21 ERA and 21 strikeouts. He has surrendered five home runs so far, which is more than he allowed in the last three seasons with the Mets.
His slow start is especially concerning because he missed the entire 2023 season after suffering a torn patellar tendon in the World Baseball Classic. This came just after he had signed a five-year, $102 million deal with the Mets after a sensational season in 2022.
He has not been that same pitcher thus far in 2024, and his struggles to lock down some victories for New York has played an impact in the team’s start to the season. New York is 21-30 and sits in fourth place in the NL East.
