Struggling with performance and now facing a right shoulder impingement, Edwin DÃaz found himself placed on the 15-day injured list by the New York Mets just before their game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The news wasn’t the only setback for the Mets that day. Slugger Pete Alonso had to exit the game early after being hit on the right hand by a fastball from James Paxton. Alonso was scheduled for imaging to assess the extent of the injury.
Brett Baty substituted for Alonso and held third base, while Mark Vientos shifted to first base. DÃaz, who missed last season due to a knee injury, has been struggling this year with a 5.40 ERA and five saves in 20 appearances. His recent outings have been particularly rough, with three consecutive blown save opportunities and four out of his last five failing to convert. Despite asserting his physical readiness, DÃaz admitted his confidence had taken a hit, attributing his struggles to overthinking on the mound.
The Mets had refrained from using DÃaz in their previous games, opting for other relievers even in critical situations. The team’s bullpen issues extend beyond DÃaz, with a total of 10 blown saves out of 22 opportunities this season, contributing to their recent string of losses. The Mets, currently in fourth place, have been enduring a tough stretch, losing nine of their last 11 games and dropping to 22-32 before Wednesday’s matchup.
DÃaz, once a dominant closer, had a stellar 2022 season but has since been plagued by injuries and inconsistency. His recent shoulder impingement adds to his injury woes, which began with a knee injury sidelining him for the entirety of the 2023 season. In DÃaz’s absence, left-handed reliever Josh Walker was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to fill the roster spot. This move came after the Mets activated lefty David Peterson from the 60-day injured list to start Wednesday’s game.
