Edwin Díaz returns after suspension due to serious injuries

This story is an excerpt from Anthony DiComo’s Mets Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, Click here. And subscribe to to receive it regularly in your inbox.

Edwin Díaz will return from a tough suspension on Saturday, bringing the Mets’ closer back into their bullpen, which is obviously important in and of itself.

More importantly, what Díaz’s return means for everyone else may be important. Over the past week and a half, the Mets have utilized what left-hander Jake Diekman called a “revolving door” bullpen. With Díaz absent, the team has made a whopping eight reliever transactions, adding and removing pitchers such as Ty Adcock, Danny Young and Matt Festa. Earlier this week, the team called up starting pitcher José Buttó as a temporary reliever. Sources say the Mets have begun looking outside the organization for help, though no deal has been finalized.

“You just have to keep going,” added Diekman, who was the loser on Wednesday night. “We know (Díaz) will be back soon.”

When he returns, Díaz will provide some breathing room. The closer’s presence not only means that all of the other relievers will be relegated to less important roles, but also that the Mets will no longer have to play with one less man in their bullpen.

This has led to some awkward situations for manager Carlos Mendoza, who has done things he normally wouldn’t do. On Monday, for example, Mendoza warmed up Reed Garrett twice before finally reluctantly using him in a three-run game after Tyler Jay allowed a four-run homer in extra innings. Two days later, Mendoza pressured rookie starter Christian Scott longer than he would have if the bullpen had been at full strength. The bullpen still ended up giving up a lead in that game.

Overall, the Mets relief pitchers posted an ERA of 6.89 and were responsible for all four of New York’s losses in Díaz’s absence.

“This is part of our current situation,” Mendoza said.

In the coming weeks, the Mets should add additional reinforcements to their bullpen, either in the form of trades or player rehabilitation. Team officials have their eye on prospect Eric Orze, who is sitting out at 90% at Triple-A Syracuse, as well as flamethrowers Shintaro Fujinami and Bryce Montes de Oca, both of whom are rehabbing. Those three could provide the Mets with the ingredients they’ve been missing while shuttled the usual suspects back and forth between Syracuse and the team.

Díaz is traveling with the team and has been taking part in some live batting practice to stay in shape. (The Mets even brought two High-A players from Brooklyn to Washington DC so Díaz would have someone to throw to.) But he has not commented publicly on Major League Baseball’s decision to suspend him, although Mets public relations officials initially scheduled a time to speak with him. So many eyes will be on what Díaz has to say when he breaks his silence this weekend.

Many will be focused on what he does when he gets back on the field. The Mets have struggled without Díaz. They need him at his best starting this weekend.