Mets player Edwin Diaz suspended for 10 games against Cubs for foreign object infestation – NBC Sports Chicago

Díaz is the eighth pitcher suspended for sticky substances since MLB cracked down on pitchers trying to use foreign substances to improve their grip and spin rate in 2021. Three of them were Mets, including Max Scherzer and Drew Smith last year.

Houston’s Ronel Blanco was suspended on May 15.

Díaz’s suspension, imposed by MLB senior vice president of on-field operations Michael Hill, will take effect with Tuesday’s Subway Series opener against the New York Yankees at Citi Field unless the pitcher appeals to MLB special assistant John McHale Jr. If Díaz appeals, the suspension will be stayed pending the outcome of the disciplinary process.

After the two-game series, the Mets will play three games against Houston. During a suspension, they would have to use one fewer player.

Díaz, 30, entered the field in the ninth inning to help secure the Mets’ victory on Sunday night, but was ejected from the game by third-base umpire Vic Carapazza after an examination of his glove and throwing hand before he threw a pitch.

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.

“Rules are rules, and they made the decision to kick him out,” Mendoza said.

Carapazza, the crew chief, said in a postgame pool report that it was “definitely not rosin and sweat” on Díaz’s hand.

“We’ve reviewed thousands of them,” Carapazza said. “I know how that feels. It was very tricky.”

Díaz said he was “really surprised” by the expulsion.

“I always use the same thing,” Díaz said. “I rub rosin and sweat on it and put my hand in the dirt a little bit to hold the ball.”

Smith got two outs in place of Díaz. Then Jake Diekman came in and struck out pinch-hitter Patrick Wisdom, making his third save for the Mets, who have won four straight Series.

Díaz missed all of 2023 after knee surgery and struggled early this season, having four blown saves and a 5.40 ERA before going on the injured list in May with a right shoulder strain. Since his return, he has been much more productive, having three scoreless one-inning outings.

New York has won 10 of 13 games, is 13-6 in June, and may need to find a temporary closer for the next two weeks.

“Look, we’ve been through a lot this year,” Mendoza said. “We’re going to find a way to get through this, you know? We’re going to keep working to get everything back in order, and yeah, guys are going to have to step up. And I’m pretty confident that when he’s out, we’re going to have guys here that can get us to the finish line.”

Héctor Santiago of Seattle and Caleb Smith of Arizona were each suspended for 10 games in 2021. Domingo Germán of the New York Yankees and Robert Suárez of San Diego were suspended last year.

Click here to follow the Cubs Talk Podcast.