Mets closer Edwin Díaz sent off for “sticky stuff” and faces automatic suspension

New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz was ejected for “sticky stuff” before pitching the second half of the ninth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Sunday night. Díaz’s ejection for using a banned grip-enhancing substance carries an automatic 10-game suspension pending an appeal.

As Díaz took the field to warm up before pitching against the Cubs in the ninth inning, second base umpire Brian Walsh performed a routine examination of the pitcher’s hand and glove. Walsh was obviously concerned about what he found and called the rest of the umpiring team together to conduct and discuss their own examinations. After this more comprehensive examination and hearing from Díaz, third base umpire and crew chief Vic Carapazza signaled that he was ejected from the game.

Here’s a look at the entire sequence:

And the corresponding screenshot:

Díaz was replaced by right-hander Drew Smith. He and Jake Diekman combined to pitch a scoreless ninth inning to give the Mets a 5-2 victory.

Pitchers tend to use grip-enhancing substances to improve their control and spin rate. The league first implemented the current policies against grip-enhancing substances in June of the 2021 season to curb the rampant use of spider tack, pine resin and similar adhesives. In spring training in 2023, MLB signaled that it would increase enforcement of rules limiting grip-enhancing substances and the frequency of checks like the one that trapped Díaz on Sunday night.

Díaz has posted a 4.70 ERA with 33 strikeouts and seven walks in 23 innings in 23 appearances this season. This season marks Díaz’s comeback from a knee injury sustained during the World Baseball Classic that cost him all of 2023.