Fantasy News

• Mets' Edwin Diaz: Collects first hold Saturday

  Rotowire Apr 20, 2024

  Diaz walked two and struck out two in a scoreless two-thirds of an inning Saturday, recording his first hold of the season in a 6-4 win over the Dodgers. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza called on his closer to protect a two-run lead with one on and one out in the eighth inning, but Diaz walked the bases loaded before escaping the jam, needing 20 pitches (nine strikes) to do it. As a result, Reed Garrett came on in the ninth and struck out the side to secure the save. Diaz has yet to have an appearance of longer than one inning this season, so it's not clear if Mendoza would have allowed the right-hander to try and get more than three outs had the eighth gone smoothly. Either way, Diaz remains the team's clear closer and sports a 1.17 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 12:4 K:BB through his first 7.2 innings this season.

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• Mets' Edwin Diaz: Working on mechanics

  Rotowire Apr 18, 2024

  Diaz attributes his early-season velocity drop to his mechanics being a little off after he missed the entire 2023 season with a knee injury, Will Sammon and Tim Britton of The Athletic report. The right-hander has averaged 96.6 mph with his four-seam fastball through his first seven appearances this season, down from the 99.1 mph he averaged in 2022 and even the 98.1 mph he averaged in April 2022. Diaz indicated Monday that he was pulling a bit to the first-base side with his delivery, something that seems like he should be able to correct fairly quickly. The velocity drop hasn't impacted his performance, as Diaz has converted all four of his save chances with an impressive 1.29 ERA, 0.57 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB through seven innings.

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• Mets' Edwin Diaz: Gathers fourth save

  Rotowire Apr 15, 2024

  Diaz picked up the save Monday against the Pirates. He pitched one shutout inning, allowing no hits and one walk with two strikeouts. Diaz posted his second save in as many days, using 18 pitches to close out the Pirates. The 30-year-old reliever bounced back Monday to fire a scoreless inning after yielding a home run Sunday. Diaz has returned to his role as an elite closer with a 1.29 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 10:2 KK:BB over his first seven innings.

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• Mets' Edwin Diaz: Secures third save

  Rotowire Apr 14, 2024

  Diaz allowed a run on one hit while striking out one batter Sunday. He picked up a save over the Royals in one inning of work. Diaz was tasked with protecting a 2-0 lead and closed the door despite coughing up a two-out solo shot to Vinnie Pasquantino. Through six innings, Diaz owns an impressive 9:1 K:BB while giving up just one earned run and converting all three of his save chances. The homer he allowed Sunday was the first hit against him since his season debut March 30.

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• Mets' Edwin Diaz: Perfect ninth to earn save

  Rotowire Apr 7, 2024

  Diaz pitched a perfect ninth inning to earn his second save in Sunday's 3-1 victory over the Reds. He struck out two. Diaz was dominant in picking up his second save of the series, needing just 12 pitches to finish off the Reds. Sunday represented Diaz's fifth appearance of the season. He's allowed only two baserunners and has struck out eight while not allowing an earned run over five frames.

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• Mets' Edwin Diaz: Notches first save

  Rotowire Apr 6, 2024

  Diaz gave up one unearned run during the ninth inning to earn the save in Friday's 3-2 victory over Cincinnati. He struck out one batter and walked one. After missing all of last season due to a torn right patellar tendon he suffered during the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Diaz was able to convert his first save opportunity of 2024. The 30-year-old closer has a 0.00 ERA through four appearances and boasts a 6:1 K:BB through four innings.

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• Mets' Edwin Diaz: Turns in scoreless appearance

  Rotowire Apr 1, 2024

  Diaz struck out two in a perfect ninth inning during the Mets' loss to Detroit on Monday. Diaz kept the game tied in the ninth inning to force the game into the 10th but the Mets ultimately fell to 0-4. The star closer has yet to see a save attempt in 2024 but he's fanned three batters in two scoreless frames. He's locked into his closing role with the Mets and should begin to see the save chances rolling in soon.

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• Mets' Edwin Diaz: Back in action

  Rotowire Mar 21, 2024

  Diaz (personal) has struck out one while allowing one earned run on zero hits and two walks over 1.2 innings in two Grapefruit League appearances for the Mets since leaving camp last week to attend to a personal matter. Diaz was away from the team last week to witness the birth of his child, but he returned to action Sunday and then made another appearance Wednesday. With Diaz's surgically repaired left knee having thus far provided no complications for him this spring, he's in line to reclaim his role as the Mets' closer in 2024.

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• Mets' Edwin Diaz: Away from camp

  Rotowire Mar 13, 2024

  Diaz will be away from the Mets' camp for several days to be with his wife, who is expected to give birth within the next week, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. Diaz's absence from camp shouldn't affect his availability for Opening Day. After missing the entire 2023 season upon rupturing the patellar tendon in his left knee during the World Baseball Classic last spring, the 29-year-old made his Grapefruit League debut Monday against the Marlins and looked as sharp as ever, as he struck out the side in a perfect inning.

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• Mets' Edwin Diaz: Looks like old self in spring debut

  Rotowire Mar 12, 2024

  Diaz topped out at 98 mph with his fastball while striking out the side in a perfect fifth inning during Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports. Seeing his first game action in almost exactly a year after he blew out his knee in the WBC last March, Diaz fanned Jesus Sanchez, Avisail Garcia and Jon Berti and showed no rust at all in his return to the mound. The right-hander fired nine of 14 pitches for strikes, and he's on track to resume the closing duties that saw him record exactly 32 saves in 2021 and 2022 for the Mets.

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• Mets' Edwin Diaz: Making spring debut Monday

  Rotowire Mar 10, 2024

  Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Sunday that Diaz will make his Grapefruit League debut Monday against the Tigers, Tim Healey of Newsday reports. The 29-year-old reported to camp fully healthy after missing all of last season due to a torn patellar tendon, but the Mets elected to ease him into things during the early stages of spring training. Diaz will likely continue ramping up his workload over the final weeks of camp, and he should return to the ranks of the best closers in MLB in 2024.

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• Mets' Edwin Diaz: Feels good to begin spring

  Rotowire Feb 13, 2024

  Diaz (knee) had no issues after throwing a bullpen session Monday on a back mound at the Mets' spring training complex, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports. "Finally back," the right-hander said after the session. "I'm ready to go." Diaz missed the entire 2023 campaign due to a knee injury he suffered in the World Baseball Classic, but he appears fully recovered from surgery and ready to resume his role as the Mets' closer. While he is throwing off a mound, the 29-year-old has yet to begin fielding bunts or covering bases during defensive drills, but those milestones will happen soon enough as spring training ramps up. Diaz recorded 32 saves in both 2021 and 2022, and if he stays healthy in 2024, he figures to deliver similar numbers again.

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• Mets' Edwin Diaz: Deemed fully healthy

  Rotowire Dec 4, 2023

  Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday that Diaz is "fully healthy" after completing his recovery from the patellar tendon surgery he required on his right knee last March, Tim Healey of Newsday reports. Coming off a brilliant 2022 campaign in which he converted 32 of 35 save chances while posting a 1.31 ERA and striking out 118 over 62 innings, Diaz profiled as arguably the top closer in fantasy drafts heading into last spring, but his season was quickly torpedoed before it even started after he injured his knee while celebrating a win for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. Diaz didn't experience any setbacks while completing what had been expected to be a six-month recovery from surgery, and though he had hoped to pitch at some point in September, the Mets chose not to activate him as they played out the string on a non-contending season. Mendoza wasn't willing to fully commit to Diaz being in store for a normal spring training, but the right-hander is seemingly facing no restrictions in his throwing program so far this offseason and should settle back into the closer's role for the Mets by the time Opening Day arrives.

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• Mets' Edwin Diaz: Won't pitch in 2023

  Rotowire Sep 18, 2023

  The Mets announced Monday that Diaz (knee) won't be activated from the 60-day injured list this season, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. A return for the final week of the regular season or the postseason might have been in play for Diaz if the Mets were in playoff contention, but the veteran closer won't be rushed back into action in light of the team's place in the standings. Since undergoing surgery in March to repair a torn patellar tendon suffered during the World Baseball Classic, Diaz has seemingly navigated the rehab process free of setbacks. He'll continue to throw bullpen sessions through the end of September and should be in store for a relatively normal offseason before he likely enters spring training without any restrictions. Diaz's continued absence should insulate Adam Ottavino as the Mets' top option for saves the rest of the way.

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• Mets' Edwin Diaz: More bullpens scheduled

  Rotowire Sep 18, 2023

  Diaz (knee) will throw at least one bullpen session at Port St. Lucie this week, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports. While the Mets haven't provided a specific reason why the right-hander will take the mound in Florida rather than New York, the team's pitching lab is located at the Port St. Lucie complex. Time is running out for Diaz to make an appearance in the majors before the end of the regular season, but the team has yet to rule it out.

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• Mets' Edwin Diaz: More bullpen sessions this week

  Rotowire Sep 5, 2023

  Diaz (knee) is scheduled to throw two bullpen sessions this week in front of the Mets' major-league coaching staff, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. Those workouts could go a long way toward determining whether Diaz will be allowed to pitch in the majors this season. That he's traveling with the Mets on their current road trip is a positive sign, but manager Buck Showalter continues to call it a week-to-week situation. The 29-year-old required surgery this spring after tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee while celebrating Team Puerto Rico's victory over Team Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic.

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• Mets' Edwin Diaz: Completes bullpen session

  Rotowire Aug 28, 2023

  Diaz (knee) threw a bullpen session Sunday and sported a fastball that sat around 93-to-95 miles per hour, Pat Ragazzo of SI.com reports. Diaz averaged 99 mph with his heater during the 2022 season, but Ragazzo notes that the right-hander didn't appear to be throwing at 100 percent effort. In any case, Diaz has reached a major milestone in his recovery from patellar tendon surgery by completing a bullpen session for the first time since suffering the knee injury in mid-March while playing for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. As has been the case since he underwent surgery, Diaz remained adamant Monday that his goal is to pitch again for the Mets in 2023. Even though the club isn't in playoff contention, Diaz could still get the green light to pitch for the big club in the closing weeks of the season if he navigates his throwing progression without any complications.

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• Mets' Edwin Diaz: Throws off mound Wednesday

  Rotowire Aug 16, 2023

  Diaz (knee) threw off a mound in the bullpen Wednesday, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports. It's not clear whether it was a regular bullpen session or a touch-and-feel situation, but either way, it's the first time Diaz has thrown from the rubber since he underwent patellar tendon surgery in March. Prior to Wednesday's session, he had done some throwing from the base of the mound. Diaz and the Mets have not ruled out a late-season return for the star reliever, but it's far from a guarantee that it will happen. Fantasy managers shouldn't be counting on him to contribute again until 2024.

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• Mets' Edwin Diaz: Throwing from base of mound

  Rotowire Aug 14, 2023

  Diaz (knee) recently began throwing from the base of the mound, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. Diaz will continue the process for another week or so and could progress to full mound work after that, although Mets general manager Billy Eppler would not commit to that. "Let's just really focus on the process," Eppler said. "What are we doing today, and was today successful? Will we repeat today? And how many days would we repeat before we move to the next phase? When we get a chance to get some objective data as well as subjective data -- feedback from the player -- then we can see what comes next." Diaz has been holding out hope for a late-season return from patellar tendon surgery, but it's not a guarantee it will happen. With his team turning the page to 2024, they might decide it's not worth pushing Diaz to return this season.

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• Mets' Edwin Diaz: Throwing long toss

  Rotowire Jul 27, 2023

  Diaz (knee) played catch at Citi Field on Thursday, Tim Healey of Newsday reports. Healy notes that Diaz was throwing from center field to the foul line in right field, a substantial distance as he ramps up his rehab program. The 29-year-old closer has stated that he wants to return this season from March surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his left knee, through he still has quite a few hurdles to clear and the Mets are currently 7.5 games back of the third wild-card spot in the National League. The Mets might rather have him focus toward getting fully healthy for spring training.

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