Mets player Díaz begins his 10-game suspension after being sent off for carrying a foreign substance

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz has started his 10-game suspension Tuesday, just two days after he was ejected from a win over the Chicago Cubs for having a foreign substance on his hand.

The 30-year-old Díaz came on the field in the ninth inning and try to get a 5-2 win for the Metsbut was ejected from the game by third base umpire Vic Carapazza before throwing a pitch after his glove and throwing hand were examined.

Both Díaz and manager Carlos Mendoza said they thought the umpire had too much of a mixture of rosin, sweat and dirt on the pitcher’s throwing hand.

But crew chief Carapazza said in a post-game pool report that it was “definitely not rosin and sweat” on Díaz’s hand.

“We checked thousands of them,” said Carapazza. “I know the feeling. It was very tricky.”

MLB suspended Diaz on Monday. The 10-game suspension is automatic for any player ejected for ingesting foreign substances. Players can appeal, but none of the eight pitchers ejected since 2001 – when MLB began cracking down on the use of sticky substances – have done so.

The Mets cannot replace Díaz on the active roster and will play with one fewer man during the suspension, which is scheduled to last through July 5 and the start of a four-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said he believed Díaz’s explanation, but the team decided it was best for him to serve the suspension immediately.

“We want to get over it – we don’t want this cloud to hang over the team for too long,” Mendoza said Tuesday before the Subway Series opener against the Yankees.

Mendoza said he would hire a closer by committee in Díaz’s absence. Díaz briefly lost his job as closer when he went 1-1 with a 9.58 ERA and four blown saves in 10 games from April 29 to May 25. He spent 15 days on the injured list with a right shoulder strain and threw three scoreless innings in his first three appearances before Sunday.

“It’s frustrating, but I think we’re ready to face the challenge and do our best,” Mets first baseman Pete Alonso said Tuesday afternoon.

Díaz is the third Mets pitcher to be suspended for taking a foreign substance in the last 14 months. Max Scherzer was ejected from a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 19, 2023, while Drew Smith was ejected before pitching against the Yankees on June 13, 2023. Smith was the first pitcher to relieve Díaz on Sunday.

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