New York Mets pitcher Edwin Díaz has been suspended for 10 games by Major League Baseball after being ejected from a game against the Chicago Cubs for using a foreign substance on his hand. This suspension is part of MLB’s crackdown on pitchers using sticky stuff to improve their grip and spin rates. Díaz is the eighth pitcher to be suspended for this offense in 2021, with three of them being from the Mets.
The suspension, issued by MLB’s senior vice president of on-field operations, Michael Hill, will start with the Subway Series opener against the New York Yankees at Citi Field unless Díaz decides to appeal. If he appeals, the penalty will be on hold until the disciplinary process is complete. This means that the Mets will have to play short a man during the suspension period, including the upcoming series against Houston.
Díaz, who missed the entire 2023 season due to knee surgery, had been struggling early in the season with four blown saves and a high ERA before going on the injured list in May. However, he had shown improvement in his performance since returning, with three scoreless outings of an inning each. The Mets have been performing well, winning 10 of their last 13 games and going 13-6 in June.
Manager Carlos Mendoza expressed confidence in the team’s ability to overcome Díaz’s absence, stating that they have been through a lot this year and will find a way to get through it. He mentioned that they will need players to step up and fill the closer role temporarily. This situation is not unique, as other pitchers like Seattle’s Héctor Santiago and Arizona’s Caleb Smith were also suspended for 10 games in 2021.
Overall, the Mets will have to adjust to playing without Díaz for the next two weeks and will need to rely on other players to step up and fill his role in the bullpen. Despite the setback, the team remains optimistic about their performance and ability to continue their success on the field.