Mets closer Edwin Diaz is facing a 10-game suspension after he was ejected in the ninth inning of New York’s 5-2 win over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday night following a routine check for foreign substances.
Diaz was ejected by crew chief Vic Carapazza before throwing a single pitch after Carapazza checked the right-hander’s cap, hands and glove. According to MLB rules, ejections for foreign substances carry automatic 10-game suspensions.
“I touched his hand. Grabbed his hand. The substance was extremely sticky,” Carapazza said. “Discolored. That was that. It definitely wasn’t rosin and sweat. We’ve checked thousands of these. I know what that feeling is. This was very sticky.”
Diaz, who missed all of last season because of knee surgery, had five saves and a 2.30 ERA through his first 15 appearances this season but has struggled since. He is now 2-1 with a 4.70 ERA on the year, with seven saves in 11 opportunities.
A two-time All-Star, the 30-year-old Diaz has 212 saves and a 3.03 ERA in 427 appearances out of the bullpen during his eight-year major league career with the Seattle Mariners (2016-18) and Mets (2019-24).
–Field Level Media