The Edwin Diaz change that’s made him Mets’ indispensable bullpen edge again

This is the best the Mets have felt about their closer situation, both internally and by comparison.

Edwin Díaz is throwing strikes these days — notably Strike 1 — and feeling (and pitching) like 2022, when he was arguably the most dominant reliever in the game. The morning after Díaz overpowered the Yankees 1-2-3 on Saturday for the NL East first-place Mets, MLB announced that the co-closer of the second-place Phillies, José Alvarado, was suspended 80 games for violating the league’s performance enhancing drug policy.

If the NL East is a three-team race, then the Mets are currently in the best situation in the end game. Philadelphia already had pen concerns before losing its most overpowering reliever in Alvarado — by rule for the playoffs, too, if the Phillies get there. Braves closer Raisel Iglesias was tied for the worst Wins Above Replacement (Fangraphs) among relievers at -0.6, mainly due to surrendering six homers in 18 ¹/₃ innings.

Now, relief pitching — more than any other element in the majors — is fickle and volatile. For example, Díaz’s younger brother, Cincinnati’s Alexis, was an All-Star in 2023, but was sent to the minors earlier this season with a 12.00 ERA in six outings. Devin Williams’ early blowups this year led to him losing the Yankee closer role to Luke Weaver.