Edwin Díaz returns after suspension due to serious illness

Although he maintained that the substance was a mixture of sweat, rosin and dirt, Díaz said he decided not to contest the league’s decision so that he and his team could turn over a new leaf and put the matter behind them. The right-hander said that while it was tough to watch his team – and especially the bullpen – struggle in his absence, he doesn’t feel bad about it.

“I took the right stuff that we’re allowed to take, so I didn’t feel guilty,” he said. “They said I was taking an illegal substance, but I feel good because I didn’t take anything wrong.”

Díaz also said that despite the suspension, he has no plans to change his routine on the mound.

“I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing,” he said. “I’m going to keep doing what I’ve been doing, rubbing myself with rosin, sweat and dirt. I think I’ll be fine.”

Manager Carlos Mendoza said he and other managers around the league have continued to have discussions with his players about the rules, but Díaz believes the rule still needs to be refined.

“That’s their rule. That’s something they need to work on,” he said. “I think they may need to keep something in line to tell us what’s sticky and what’s not. But at the end of the day, that’s their rule. They’ve made their decision.”

Díaz has worked one bullpen and two live batting practice sessions during his time off, but hasn’t pitched in a live game in 13 days. Neither he nor Mendoza are worried that he’s rusty from the long layoff between appearances. Mendoza said Díaz will be available for Saturday’s game against Pittsburgh.

A seamless return of Díaz in the late innings would be a welcome sight for the Mets bullpen, which posted an 8.37 ERA in his absence, the worst in MLB during that time. The team also brought back hard-throwing prospect Eric Orze from Triple-A Syracuse ahead of Saturday’s game to bolster the bullpen.

Díaz is the third Mets player to be suspended for a sticky substance ban violation in the last 15 months. Former Mets Max Scherzer and Drew Smith, both of whom have not appealed their decisions, join six other players from across the league who have been suspended for similar incidents since MLB began implementing sticky substance checks in 2021.