New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz earned his second save of the season by throwing a clean ninth inning. The right-handed pitcher struck out Jake Fraley on a foul tip on his first out, got Luke Maile to fly out to center field for the second, and tallied his second punch out against Nick Martini to earn the final out. This was Diaz's second save opportunity of the season and remains perfect to start the young campaign. The 30-year-old has pitched five innings and has yet to surrender an earned run with a minuscule 0.40 WHIP. Diaz remains an elite relief pitcher in fantasy and should finish near, if not, at the top of save totals at the end of the season.

New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz earned his first save of the season on Friday in a 3-2 win over the Reds. Diaz didn't allow a hit, walked one, and struck out one. The 2x All-Star has had his usual elite stuff, making four appearances thus far while allowing just one hit and no earned runs over four innings pitched, with one walk and six strikeouts. With the Mets sitting at 2-5 to start the year, however, the issue for fantasy managers could be the lack of save opportunities if New York doesn't turn things around. Assuming they do, Diaz remains a top-option at closer and will contribute low ERA and WHIP along with a bunch of strikeouts regardless of the Mets' struggles.

New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz (knee) made his first big-league appearance since the postseason of 2022 in Monday's 1-0 Grapefruit League loss to the Marlins. Diaz entered the game in the fifth inning and struck out the side swinging, touching 98 MPH with his fastball. The 29-year-old suffered a season-ending knee injury last March in the World Baseball Classic, so seeing him look so strong back in game action is encouraging for fantasy managers. Diaz is one of fantasy's top closing options when healthy, and this was a good indication that he appears to be so.

New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz (knee) looked good while facing batters for the first time on Thursday since suffering a season-ending knee injury last March in the World Baseball Classic. He kept his fastball in the mid-90s by design on Thursday. The hard-throwing 29-year-old also had no issues during a bullpen session at camp on Monday and said he's "finally back." We'll continue to monitor his progress throughout spring training, but barring any setbacks, Diaz will most likely be the first closer off the board in fantasy drafts. He had 32 saves in both 2021 and 2022 before tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee last March. Diaz struck out an absurd 118 hitters in just 62 innings in 2022 for the Mets.

New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz (knee) threw a bullpen session Monday, saying he's "ready to go" for the 2024 season, per The Athletic's Tim Britton. The 29-year-old had season-ending knee surgery last March. Regarding his off-season before spring training, Diaz said, "It was my normal off-season, I did my normal routine." While he hasn't started fielding bunts or covering the bases from the mound, it is expected that that should happen soon. It is a welcome sight for both the Mets and fantasy managers to have one of baseball's best closers back, although fantasy managers should keep an eye on any updates on Diaz's progression through spring.

New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said that closer Edwin Diaz (knee), who had season-ending knee surgery in March, is "fully healthy." Mendoza wouldn't commit to saying Diaz will have a normal spring training, but he said the Mets will have to put together a plan that makes sense. Diaz suffered a torn patellar tendon in his right knee during the World Baseball Classic and didn't pitch at all for the Mets. New York is going to be extra-cautious with the 29-year-old hard-throwing reliever, but as long as he doesn't have any setbacks this offseason or next spring, he should be ready for Opening Day in 2024. Before the devastating injury, Diaz was a top-tier fantasy closer after saving 32 games with 118 K's in 62 innings in 2022.

New York Mets right-handed reliever Edwin Diaz (knee) won't return from the 60-day injured list to pitch this year. However, he will continue to throw bullpen sessions until the end of September. The Mets don't want to risk the high-end closer in a game given the fact that they aren't in playoff contention with the end of the season nearing. Diaz will be ready for a normal offseason and the start of 2024 after tearing the patellar tendon in his knee during the World Baseball Classic this spring. Now that we know Diaz isn't returning this year, Adam Ottavino should have the closing duties all to himself the rest of the way. The 29-year-old flame-throwing Diaz should once again be an elite closing option for fantasy managers in 2024 drafts despite missing all of 2023.

New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (knee) is with the team in Washington D.C. and is tentatively scheduled to travel with them the rest of the way on their road trip. He has two bullpen sessions scheduled during the road trip, and the Mets want him to throw them in front of their training staff. The 29-year-old closer is still hoping to pitch again this year after tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee while celebrating during the World Baseball Classic in the spring. There's no guarantee that Diaz will pitch for the Mets down the stretch, but the good news is that he'll be fully healthy and ready to go for spring training next year at the very least. And even if Diaz does come back this month, there's no guarantee he'll even pitch in save situations.

New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (knee) threw his first normal bullpen session on Sunday and feels healthy. "The goal is, I want to pitch this year. The progress has been perfect," Diaz said. The 29-year-old closer was between 93 and 95 mph with his fastball but also wasn't going 100 percent in his first bullpen session. Diaz still wants to attempt to make a comeback at the tail end of the 2023 season despite the fact that the Mets are well out of contention for a postseason spot. He's attempting to return from a torn patellar tendon that he suffered while pitching in the World Baseball Classic in the middle of March. Diaz won't make much of an impact at all in fantasy if he returns this year, but the good news is he should be fully healthy for spring training next year and the start of the 2024 season.

New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (knee) may throw an outdoor bullpen session on Sunday, according to manager Buck Showalter. The Mets skipper told the media on Friday evening that the former All-Star has a chance to throw Sunday after he threw indoors earlier in the week. Diaz has missed the entire season after suffering a patellar tendon injury way back in March during the World Baseball Classic. He's inching closer to pitching sometime in mid-to-late September but with the Mets so far out of contention, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Diaz will be ready for spring training next February, barring any setbacks.

New York Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (knee) threw off a mound in the bullpen on Wednesday. It's the first time that Diaz has thrown off a mound since having surgery to fix his patellar tendon back in March, so it's a big step as he tries to potentially make it back at the tail end of the 2023 season. The Mets have yet to rule the 29-year-old out for this year, but with the team well out of postseason contention, it doesn't make much sense for them to try and bring him back in September. And even if Diaz does make it back, he won't really have enough time to provide much to his fantasy managers. The good news is that the two-time All-Star and lockdown closer should be fully healthy and ready to go for spring training in 2024.

New York Mets manager Buck Showalter said, "He might make it," when discussing whether right-handed reliever Edwin Diaz (knee) will be available to pitch this year. Showalter said Diaz's rehab is going very well and that he's doing pitching-type baseball activities. There is an internal debate within the organization on the value of Diaz getting into a game down the stretch this year. The Mets are long shots to make the postseason, so the Mets may eventually decide that it doesn't make much sense to rush Diaz back to a major-league game in the final month of the regular season in September. The 29-year-old is an elite fantasy closer when he's healthy, but he's not going to have enough time to contribute to fantasy rosters if he does make an appearance in 2023. Diaz suffered a torn patellar tendon in his left knee in the World Baseball Classic.

Cincinnati Reds closer Alexis Diaz said his brother, New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz (knee), is doing well in his rehab from knee surgery. "He's doing really well. He's been going out and throwing 125 to 150 feet every day. He's been recovering pretty fast. He's a true athlete and really can recover quickly, so I hope to see him out there really soon." Edwin Diaz said early in June that he remained hopeful that he could return to the Mets bullpen at some point later this year, but that probably is a long shot to actually transpire after the 29-year-old suffered a torn patellar tendon in his right knee while celebrating in the World Baseball Classic this spring. Even if Diaz were able to return at the tail end of the season, he wouldn't have much time to provide any real fantasy value.

New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz (knee), who tore the patellar tendon in his right knee while celebrating a win for Team Puerto Rico in this year's World Baseball Classic on March 15, thinks he can return this season. "If everything keeps going how it's going, we've got a chance to pitch," Diaz said. "The trainers and doctors will decide, but I feel great. Let's see what's coming for us." General manager Billy Eppler initially said that Diaz would be around eight months, but occasionally athletes can return in six months. A six-month return would enable Diaz to rejoin the team in mid-September, which would leave him very little time to make any kind of fantasy impact in 2023. The 29-year-old remains a ways off from a potential return. For the foreseeable future, David Robertson and Adam Ottavino will continue to share save chances in Queens.

Is there a chance that New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz (knee) could return to pitch this year? "If everything goes well, I think I can be back quicker than eight months. I might throw this year," Diaz said. The hard-throwing 29-year-old right-handed reliever had surgery to fix a torn patellar tendon that he suffered while pitching for Team Puerto Rico in this year's World Baseball Classic, and it's likely that we won't see him at all for the Mets in 2023. However, Diaz thinks there might be a chance he could return in October if the Mets are in the postseason. He's making good progress so far, but it's still more of a pipe dream that Diaz will be pitching later this year. For now, David Robertson is the team's favorite for saves.

The New York Mets will be reimbursed for closer Edwin Diaz's (knee) salary during his time on the injured list this year after he suffered a torn patellar tendon at the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday night, according to league sources. MLB has insurance in place to protect teams if their players get injured in the WBC. If Diaz doesn't return in 2023, the league's insurance would cover his entire 2023 salary of $18.65 million, but it's unclear if Diaz's salary will still count against the luxury tax. The 28-year-old had successful surgery on Thursday and is expected to be out for at least eight months, so he'll most likely miss all of this year. With Diaz now on the shelf, David Robertson and Brooks Raley are now the most likely options to save games for the Mets in 2023.

New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz (knee) will undergo surgery on Thursday to fix a right patellar tendon injury, according to general manager Billy Eppler. Diaz will miss at least eight months most likely. It means that the 28-year-old All-Star closer will miss the entire 2023 season after getting injured while celebrating Team Puerto Rico's World Baseball Classic victory over the Dominican Republic on Wednesday night. It's a huge blow for the Mets and their bullpen, as Diaz is the most dominant high-leverage reliever in the game. Fantasy managers should obviously avoid him in drafts this spring. David Robertson, who has well over 100 career saves, and Brooks Raley are the mostly likely closing candidates for the Mets now that Diaz will most likely miss all of this year.

New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz (knee) will have an MRI exam on his injured right knee on Thursday morning, but initial indications are that Diaz's injury is "bad," in the words of one source. People briefed on the situation fear that Diaz could be lost for a significant period, perhaps for the entire 2023 season after he injured his knee celebrating Team Puerto Rico's win over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday night. If you are drafting on Thursday, it would probably be best to avoid selecting Diaz. It would be a huge blow to lose one of, if not the best, closer in baseball for the entire season. With Diaz hurt, David Robertson and Brooks Raley figure to be the primary closing options for the Mets this year.

New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz was named the 2022 recipient of the Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year Award on Tuesday. Diaz won the American League version of the away back in 2018 with the Seattle Mariners, and he joins Craig Kimbrel as the only players to win the award in each league. The hard-throwing right-hander had a ridiculous 118 strikeouts in just 62 innings last season, resulting in an average of 17.1 strikeouts per nine innings. It's the highest single-season rate by any pitcher in major-league history with at least 60 innings pitched. The Mets should be one of the better teams in baseball again in 2023, making Diaz an elite fantasy closer.