Mets ready to welcome Díaz back to ‘pen

This story was excerpted from Anthony DiComo’s Mets Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Edwin Díaz is set to return from a sticky stuff suspension on Saturday, bringing the Mets’ closer back to their bullpen. In and of itself, that’s quite obviously important.

Even more crucial might be what Díaz’s return can do for everyone else. Over the past week and a half, the Mets have been using what left-hander Jake Diekman described as a “revolving door” bullpen. With Díaz absent, the team has made a whopping eight reliever transactions, shuttling pitchers such as Ty Adcock, Danny Young and Matt Festa on and off the roster. Earlier this week, the team called up starting pitcher José Buttó to serve as a temporary reliever. Sources said the Mets have begun poking outside the organization for help, albeit with no deals done.

“You just keep grinding it out,” added Diekman, the losing pitcher on Wednesday night. “We know [Díaz] will be back soon-ish.”

When he does return, Díaz will offer a reprieve. In addition to pushing every other reliever back into lower-leverage roles, the closer’s presence means the Mets will no longer have to play a man short in their bullpen.

Doing so has created some uncomfortable situations for manager Carlos Mendoza, who has done things he typically would not. On Monday, for example, Mendoza warmed Reed Garrett on two separate occasions before finally, begrudgingly, bringing him into a three-run game after Tyler Jay allowed a four-spot in extra innings. Two days later, Mendoza pushed rookie starter Christian Scott longer than he would have had the bullpen been at full strength. The ‘pen wound up coughing up a lead in that one, anyway.

Overall, Mets relievers have produced a 6.89 ERA and been responsible for all four of New York’s losses in Díaz’s absence.

“It’s part of where we’re at right now,” Mendoza said.

Over the coming weeks, the Mets should get some additional bullpen help, whether that’s in the form of trade acquisitions or rehabbing players. Team officials have been keeping eyes on prospect Eric Orze, who has been sitting in the mid-90s at Triple-A Syracuse, as well as flamethrowers Shintaro Fujinami and Bryce Montes de Oca, who are on each on a rehab assignment. Those three could add ingredients the Mets have lacked while shuttling the usual suspects back and forth from Syracuse.

As for Díaz, he’s been traveling with the team, throwing a few live batting practice sessions to stay in shape. (The Mets even brought two High-A Brooklyn players to Washington D.C., so that Díaz would have someone to throw to.) But he has not spoken publicly about Major League Baseball’s decision to suspend him, despite Mets public relations officials initially setting a date for him to talk. As such, many eyes will be focused on what Díaz has to say when he breaks his silence this weekend.

Many more will be focused on what he does when he steps back on the field. Without Díaz, the Mets have struggled. They need him in top form beginning this weekend.