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Player Outlook
Alexis Diaz emerged last year as one of the best closers for fantasy purposes, boasting nine wins and 37 saves with solid ratios and a 30% strikeout rate. While his save total was fourth highest in the majors, Diaz only accounted for 69.8% of the Reds' 53 saves. Cincinnati was more competitive last year, but led the league in one-run games and recorded a save in a league-leading 64.6% of their 82 wins. As such, expecting Diaz to approach the 40-save mark again in 2024 might be a mistake, especially given the 27-year-old's perennially high walk rate. Diaz did adjust his pitch usage, opting to throw far more sliders (51.5% usage) than he did in 2022 (35.2%). It was one of the best sliders in baseball per Statcast Run Value (16), while his four-seamer lost some velocity (-1.2 mph) and wasn't as effective. Diaz also faded down the stretch, possibly due to a career-high 71 appearances. Look for him to be one of the top 10 closers off the board, but don't lock in a repeat of last season's stats.

Fantasy Stats

Year fpts
Fantasy Points
fpts/g
Fantasy Points per Game
ip
Innings Pitched
w
Wins
l
Losses
sv
Saves
so
Strikeouts
bb
Base on Balls (Walk)
era
Earned Run Average
whip
Walks and Hits Allowed Per Inning
2024 0.00 0.00
2023 4246 67.3 9 6 37 86 36 3.07 1.19
2022 257.54.4 63.7 7 3 10 83 33 1.84 0.96
3y Avg. 3465.3 65.3 8 4 24 84 34 2.48 1.07
Projections Powered by
Fantasy Performance by Week
90%
Roster
82%
Start
#9
RP Rank

Fantasy News

  • Reds' Alexis Diaz: Makes second spring appearance

    Diaz allowed two runs on two hits and struck out one over one inning in Monday's spring game against Oakland. Diaz made his second Cactus League appearance, entering to start the fourth inning. He's one of a handful of closers deemed to have a high degree of security, so it will take more than one deleterious spring outing for the Reds to be concerned. Diaz recorded 37 saves (40 chances) in 2023.
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  • Reds' Alexis Diaz: Loses again

    Diaz (9-6) suffered Saturday's loss, allowing four runs on five hits over two-thirds of an inning against Pittsburgh. Diaz, who has allowed multiple runs in four of his last 11 appearances, was tagged with a second consecutive loss. The 26-year-old made his career-high 68th appearance, which may be part of the reason for a recent falloff -- he has a 7.45 ERA over his last 9.2 innings. Cincinnati's bullpen, which has saved the team throughout the season, has blown the lead in three straight games, and the Reds have fallen 2.5 games back in the wild-card race with six games remaining.
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  • Reds' Alexis Diaz: Tagged with blown save, loss

    Diaz (9-5) was tagged with the loss and a blown save against the Twins on Wednesday. He allowed three runs on two hits and one walk over one-third of an inning. Diaz's line looks much worse than what actually transpired: a 34.6-mph infield single, a stolen base with a throwing error that moved the runner to the third, and a 70.4-mph soft liner to drive in a run. Following a walk, the closer was replaced by Sam Moll. After a double steal and intentional walk, Jorge Polanco singled in two runs, both charged to Diaz. This was just the young closer's third blown save in 40 opportunities and was the first time he's given up more than one earned run in an outing since Aug. 4.
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  • Reds' Alexis Diaz: Needed in non-save situation

    Diaz allowed three runs on two hits while not retiring a batter in Sunday's 15-7 loss to the Cubs. A depleted pitching staff caught up with the Reds, as a slugfest used up several pitchers before Diaz entered a 5-5 game in the eighth inning. The bases were loaded when the closer entered, and Diaz sandwiched a pair to two-run singles around a throwing error of his own. The silver lining is that he used up only 14 pitches, and Diaz should be available if a save opportunity presents itself Monday against Seattle.
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  • Reds' Alexis Diaz: Collects seventh win

    Diaz (7-4) picked up the win in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Cubs, giving up a hit and striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning. The Cincy closer got the call in the top of the ninth with his team down 2-1 at home, and he was rewarded with the win when the Reds staged a rally against his Chicago counterpart Adbert Alzolay. Diaz has collected four of his seven wins (plus two of his 35 saves) over his last seven appearances as Cincinnati tries to secure a playoff spot, a stretch in which he has a 0.00 ERA and 0.91 WHIP despite a 7:5 K:BB.
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  • Reds' Alexis Diaz: Notches 35th save

    Diaz walked one and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday to record his 35th save of the season in a 4-1 win over the Giants. He needed 20 pitches (12 strikes) to get the job done after walking Patrick Bailey to begin the frame, but Diaz got a little defensive help from Elly De La Cruz to avoid any further trouble. Diaz's 35 saves ties him for the NL lead with Camilo Doval, but the Reds' closer is showing signs of wearing down -- through 10.1 innings in August, he has a 10:8 K:BB to go along with his 2.61 ERA and 1.26 WHIP.
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  • Reds' Alexis Diaz: Blows save, snags win

    Diaz (6-4) allowed three unearned runs on a hit and a walk while striking out one over one inning, taking a blown save but earning the win Saturday over the Diamondbacks. A Matt McLain error in the 10th inning allowed the Diamondbacks to extend a rally, erasing the Reds' three-run lead. Cincinnati retook the lead in the 11th, and Lucas Sims secured the save to allow Diaz to back into a win. Diaz has allowed seven runs (three earned) across 9.1 innings while posting a 9:7 K:BB in August -- shaky work for one of the better closers in the game this year. He's at a 2.22 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 77:27 K:BB through 56.2 innings while going 34-for-36 in save chances.
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  • Reds' Alexis Diaz: Perfect for save No. 34

    Diaz picked up the save in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Angels. He struck out one over a clean inning. Diaz notched his first save since Aug. 7 -- his longest stretch without a save this season -- by registering a perfect ninth frame. Though Diaz hasn't been a save contributor as of late, he picked up a win in each of his previous two appearances and hasn't allowed a hit in the past 3.2 innings of action. Despite the drought, Diaz remains MLB's leader in saves, and he boasts a 2.30 ERA and a 75:24 K:BB across 54.2 innings.
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  • Reds' Alexis Diaz: Takes loss in 10th

    Diaz (3-3) took the loss Friday against the Nationals. He allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits while striking out three without a walk over 1.2 innings. After retiring the side in order in the ninth to preserve the tie, Diaz returned for the 10th but couldn't get through the extra frame as Lane Thomas smacked a two-run homer on the right-hander's 32nd pitch of the night. Reds manager David Bell asked a lot of his closer in this one and he fell a little short, but if anyone deserves a mulligan, it's Diaz. He still has just one blown save on the year compared to 32 successful save conversions.
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  • Reds' Alexis Diaz: Notches 32nd save

    Diaz struck out one batter in a perfect inning to earn a save over the Cubs on Monday. Diaz faced the top of Chicago's order with Cincinnati clinging to a one-run ninth-inning and made things look easy, throwing all nine of his pitches for a strike to retire the side in order. The fireballer finished July having converted all 10 of his save opportunities, allowing just three earned runs over 11.1 innings and posting an 11:1 K:BB. Diaz has emerged as one of the league's elite closers in his second big-league campaign, leading the majors with 32 saves and posting a 12.9 K/9 over 50 appearances.
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  • Reds' Alexis Diaz: Labors in one-out save

    Diaz allowed a hit and a hit-by-pitch but recorded the final out to earn the save Tuesday against the Brewers. The Reds closer was called upon with two outs in the ninth inning after Daniel Duarte was unable to maintain a 4-0 lead. Diaz struggled to record the final out, as he gave up an infield single and plunked Willy Adames in the head before inducing a flyout to end the game. The right-hander secured his 30th save of the season in the end, but he's now allowed two runs on five hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch while recording just four outs over his past three outings. Diaz has made seven appearances in the last 10 days, which could prompt manager David Bell to look elsewhere should a save opportunity arise Wednesday.
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  • Reds' Alexis Diaz: Works for 29th save

    Diaz picked up the save in Saturday's 4-2 victory over the Diamondbacks. He allowed one run on two hits while striking out two over one inning. Diaz struggled to close out Saturday's contest, serving up a solo homer to Corbin Carroll while also allowing a double to Christian Walker in the ninth, though the closer still managed to secure his 29th save of the season. The outing marked his first earned run allowed since July 3 (seven innings), a stretch in which he's a perfect 8-of-8 in save opportunities.
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  • Reds' Alexis Diaz: Unable to strand runner

    Diaz allowed one hit and struck out one over two-thirds of an inning in Sunday's 4-3 loss to Milwaukee. The game was setting up as a save opportunity for Diaz, as the Reds entered the eighth inning with a 3-2 lead. However, setup reliever Lucas Sims allowed a run and left with a runner on second base. Diaz was summoned earlier than usual but was unable to prevent the inherited runner from scoring, as Andruw Monasterio's flare to right field landed in play. The All-Star closer has a better-than-average 80.5 percent strand rate.
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  • Reds' Alexis Diaz: Tallies 26th save

    Diaz earned a save against the Brewers on Saturday, allowing one hit and striking out two batters over one inning. Diaz came on in the ninth inning with Cincinnati holding a three-run lead. He struck out Jesse Winker and Christian Yelich before giving up a single to William Contreras, but that hit proved harmless when Diaz got Willy Adames to ground out to end the game. Surprisingly, the talented closer had gone eight straight outings without picking up multiple strikeouts before Sunday, but he had still gotten the job done with five saves in six chances along with a 2.25 ERA during that span. Diaz has blown only one save opportunity all season and is tied for the MLB lead with 26 saves overall.
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  • Reds' Alexis Diaz: Picks up save

    Diaz allowed one hit in a scoreless inning while earning a save over Washington on Monday. Diaz worked around a one-out single to pick up his 24th save of the year Monday. It was his first scoreless appearance since June 28 after allowing a run in each of his last two outings. The 26-year-old lowered his season ERA to 2.13 with a 58:19 K:BB through 38 innings. However, he's punched out just one batter over his last four frames.
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  • Reds' Alexis Diaz: Escapes with 23rd save

    Diaz picked up the save Sunday against the Padres. He allowed one run on two hits while striking out one over one inning. After blowing a save in his last outing, Diaz struggled to close out Sunday's contest. He entered the match with a 4-2 lead and retired the first two batters he faced but allowed a runner to score after back-to-back hits and stranded the would-be tying run at second to secure the save. Diaz now holds the fourth-most saves in MLB and owns a 2.19 ERA and 58:19 K:BB through 38 appearances (37 innings).
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  • Reds' Alexis Diaz: Snaps saves streak Friday

    Diaz blew the save in Friday's 7-5 victory over San Diego, allowing one run on two hits over one inning. He didn't record a strikeout or walk. Diaz surrendered the lead in the ninth on a sacrifice fly, ending an MLB-best streak of 27 straight saves, but the Reds offense bailed their closer out in extra innings, so there was no harm done. Diaz still boasts elite numbers (2.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 14.2 K/9) across 37 appearances this season and is now 22-for-23 in save opportunities. He remains one of the best relief pitchers in the game and is a top-tier fantasy option moving forward.
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  • Reds' Alexis Diaz: Locks down 22nd save

    Diaz picked up the save Tuesday against Baltimore. He allowed one walk while logging a strikeout in a scoreless inning. Diaz is now a perfect 22-for-22 in save chances this year, putting him fourth in the league. The 26-year-old right-hander has been dominant, pitching to a 1.85 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP and 57:19 K:BB through 34 innings. With Cincinnati surging, Diaz should remain a high-end closing option for fantasy purposes.
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  • Reds' Alexis Diaz: Picks up another save Tuesday

    Diaz allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out three in the ninth to earn the save over the Rockies on Tuesday. Diaz did not have a sharp outing but was still able to escape with his sixth save since June 11 and his 20th of the season. Tuesday's save vaulted him into a tie for third as Diaz continues to establish himself as one of the league's top closers. The 26-year-old now holds a 2.03 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 55:15 K:BB in 31 innings. He's thrown 51 pitches over the last two days and should not be expected to be available to pitch Wednesday, likely leaving closing duties up to either Buck Farmer or Lucas Sims.
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  • Reds' Alexis Diaz: Records save Monday

    Diaz earned a save against the Brewers on Monday, striking out all three batters he faced in a perfect inning of work. Rookie starter Andrew Abbott and a pair of relievers held Milwaukee scoreless for eight innings, and Diaz was asked to complete the shutout in the ninth. He did so with ease, firing nine of 12 pitches for a strike and getting each of Christian Yelich, Brian Anderson and Luis Urias to go down swinging. Diaz is a perfect 14-for-14 in save chances on the season, and he hasn't been scored upon in eight straight outings. After registering an impressive 1.84 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 11.7 K/9 as a rookie last season, Diaz has been even better in his sophomore campaign, posting a 1.54 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and jaw-dropping 17.0 K/9 across 23.1 frames.
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