Mets player Edwin Diaz breaks his silence on his recent 10-game suspension

Edwin Diaz emerges from the phone booth and arrives on the scene just in time as the New York Mets (42-44) attempt to end their recent bullpen woes before they lose even more ground in the standings.

Drawing parallels between the two-time Reliever of the Year (one in each league) and The Last Son of Krypton is admittedly a bit premature, given his turbulent 2024 season. Diaz had a dismal stretch earlier this year where he just couldn’t buy a save, but he hasn’t allowed a run in his last three appearances. Another reason the Superman comparison might be inappropriate is that the closer just finished a 10-game suspension for allegedly breaking the rules.

MLB punished Diaz after umpire Vic Carapazza ruled he violated league rules regarding foreign substances before preparing to pitch in the ninth inning of the Mets’ 5-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on June 23. Although he did not appeal the suspension, the two-time All-Star vehemently denies using the infamous “sticky stuff.”

Consequently, he has no plans to change his pre-game approach now that he’s officially back with the ballclub. “I don’t feel guilty because I didn’t have anything,” Edwin Diaz said Saturday afternoon before New York’s road game against the Pittsburgh Pirates (42-45), according to Newsday’s Tim Healey. “I used the right stuff that they allow us to use. So I didn’t feel guilty.”

Regardless of the past, Mets need Edwin Diaz

Whenever a pitcher is penalized for allegedly applying the “sticky stuff,” a debate erupts over the similarities between rosin on a hot and humid day and a banned substance. Carapazza confidently claims that the cause of the consistency was neither rosin nor sweat, insisting he knows the difference after checking countless hands.

In any case, Diaz is active and can immediately help the Mets’ struggling bullpen. In his absence, their relievers have struggled mightily and blown several games. The team is back under .500 and three and a half games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the National League’s third wild-card spot. Even an unpredictable Diaz is a welcome sight right now.

At his best, the 30-year-old Puerto Rican excels on the mound, posting a sensational 1.31 ERA and 32 saves in 61 games for New York in 2022. He struck out a whopping 118 batters in 62 innings and wowed Queens all year long. Since then, however, Edwin Diaz has been plagued by terrible bad luck and troubling command issues.

He has a 4.70 ERA and has already allowed five home runs this season. However, the veteran right-hander is looking much fitter after his 15-day stint on the injured list (shoulder impingement) in late May. As for the Mets, here’s hoping he can shake off the rust from his suspension and strengthen the back end of their bullpen once and for all.

The team is facing a crucial phase

New York needs to take advantage of an easy portion of its schedule – Pirates, Washington Nationals and Colorado Rockies – before heading into the MLB All-Star break, or President of Baseball Operations David Stearns could be backed into an uncomfortable corner at the July 30 trade deadline.

Considering the dire circumstances that await this franchise, it seems more than reasonable to adorn Diaz with the metaphorical red cape. He will likely need to channel his former superhero form if the Mets want to have a real chance at baseball in October.