Mets' Edwin Diaz has new theory about latest struggles

New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz previously indicated the fact that he missed all of the 2023 season due to a torn patellar tendon in his right knee was why his throwing shoulder was "a little tired" as he suffered multiple blown saves in May.

Diaz offered a different theory about his recent woes shortly after he gave up an eighth-innin g grand slam in what became Wednesday's 8-5 defeat at the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“My slider is like floating in the sun," Diaz explained, as shared by Phillip Martinez of SNY. "I’m driving to third base instead of home plate. That’s why I think I’m missing my slider right in the middle."

Whatever is troubling Diaz, history shows the Mets won't remain in playoff conversations for long if he doesn't quickly return to his elite self. He surrendered a walk-off home run in this past Sunday's 3-2 loss at the San Diego Padres, and he then walked a pair of batters to load the bases with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning of Wednesday's game before Arizona's Corbin Carroll crushed a Diaz delivery over the right-field wall.

"I just flush it," Diaz said about how he'll react to his sixth blown save of the campaign. "When I was struggling earlier in the season I was coming back from the injury. I didn’t pitch the whole year, but now I know what I have to do to get better. I gotta keep working and I’ll be good."

Diaz likely will need to be better than "good" for the 69-64 Mets to climb back into postseason position in the National League standings. New York began Thursday trailing the rival Atlanta Braves by four games in the battle for the NL's final wild-card playoff berth.

The good news for Mets fans is that Diaz and Co. have shown throughout 2024 that they're resilient enough to bounce back from brutal losses and injury issues. The bad news is New York now only has a month left in the season to make up ground in the standings.

"It’s a tough loss today," Diaz acknowledged after he failed to hold onto a 5-4 lead. "We had it. We have to keep playing baseball and at the end of the season we’ll see where we are."

As of Thursday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Mets at +500 betting odds to make the playoffs. The Amazins will finish their midweek series at the Diamondbacks (76-57) on Thursday afternoon.