PITTSBURGH — Edwin Diaz was last seen entering a game June 23, when he was ejected before throwing a pitch because of a stickiness on his right hand that was deemed in violation of MLB’s rules on foreign substances.
The subsequent 10-game suspension issued by the league is set to conclude Saturday when the Mets closer will be eligible to pitch again.
The best that could be said about the situation is the Mets didn’t collapse in Diaz’s absence.
Entering Friday, the Mets were 5-4 in the games they had played without the electric closer.
As much as the Mets missed Diaz, the double whammy was they couldn’t replace him on the roster.
It left the Mets razor-thin in some instances to fill innings, while shuffling arms between Triple-A Syracuse and the major league club.
“I feel like guys stepped up the best that they could,” reliever Reed Garrett said Friday before the Mets faced the Pirates at PNC Park. “If we had [Diaz], we would be in a better spot. We are looking forward to getting him back.”
Diaz, following his ejection at Wrigley Field, said he had used rosin, dirt and sweat — the same mixture he normally uses to get a better grip on the ball.
But umpiring crew chief Vic Carapazza saw it differently, saying some other substance was involved.
In four games since returning from the injured list (he missed two weeks with a shoulder impingement), Diaz hadn’t allowed an earned run and converted both of his save opportunities.
It was a better version of Diaz than the Mets had seen in May when he pitched to an 8.68 ERA and blew four of his five save opportunities.
In the bullpen, the Mets have leaned heavily on Garrett, Dedniel Nunez and Jake Diekman.
The team also recalled Jose Butto, a starting pitcher, from Triple-A Syracuse and added him to the bullpen mix.
“There were days when guys got big outs and there were days when we didn’t get the job done, and that is part of it,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “I feel like the guys did a real good job. The starters went deep when needed. The offense stepped up and scored runs when we needed it so I am just excited to have Diaz back [Saturday].”
Diaz’s absence was maybe most felt last weekend when the Mets lost successive games against the Astros in which the bullpen struggled in the late innings.
Diekman’s rough outing Wednesday in Washington contributed to a loss.
“It’s impossible to know what would have happened if Edwin had been there or we had another roster spot, but we didn’t have a choice,” Adam Ottavino said. “We just have got to deal with it and we are almost through it.”
Another loser in the Diaz suspension was Tylor Megill.
The Mets were planning a six-man rotation that included Megill and Christian Scott, who was recalled from Syracuse on Wednesday.
But in need of fresh bullpen arms, the Mets optioned Megill to Syracuse, along with lefty reliever Danny Young.
Mendoza indicated Friday the plan is to remain with a five-man rotation heading into the All-Star break.
“Unfortunately, Tylor and Danny Young got sent down, guys who had thrown a bunch and it stinks for them,” Garrett said. “But it’s the unfortunate part of the situation we were in. Getting [Diaz] back is going to be huge for us going forward and then in a big stretch going into the All-Star break where we kind of put our statement where we are at.”
