MIAMI — Edwin Diaz’s most recent blown save wasn’t sounding any alarm bells.
The All-Star closer allowed a run in the ninth inning Thursday to tie a game the Mets eventually won in extra innings against the Phillies, but it continued a slump in the early season for Diaz, who has three blown saves in his past four chances.
It’s hardly been the Diaz who electrified baseball in 2022 with an all-time great season for a closer, which earned him a five-year contract worth $102 million.
Diaz missed last season rehabbing from surgery for a torn patellar tendon in his right knee.
Diaz has pitched to a 3.57 ERA in 17 appearances this season and owns a zero bWAR.
“There is nothing wrong with him,” pitching coach Jeremy Hefner said before the Mets lost, 8-0, to the Marlins on Friday night. “It’s tough. I get it from a fan’s perspective. He blows three saves, [Thursday] was a walk and a wild pitch and a ground ball. He’s still getting swings-and-misses. He’s still getting strikeouts.
“The level he pitched at in 2022 was historic. [To expect] him to do it for the rest of his career is unfair to him. Now do we expect him to go out and get saves and shut the other team out? Absolutely.”
Hefner said adjusting to the pitch clock has been a potential issue for Diaz, who was on the IL all of last season when the timing device was implemented.
“That’s the first time he’s had to deal with some of this,” Hefner said. “Those things really present themselves when there are people on base, and he’s had more of that recently so it’s just an adjustment.”
Brandon Nimmo missed a second straight game with a stomach bug.
Tyrone Taylor batted in the leadoff spot for a second straight day.
The Mets are an MLB-best 32-20 in extra-inning games since 2020 (the year the automatic runner at second base was implemented).
Thursday the Mets beat the Phillies 6-5 in 11 innings for their most recent victory in extras.
Carlos Mendoza didn’t want to hear anything about the Mets receiving an opportunity to fatten up this weekend against an underwhelming opponent.
The Marlins entered play with MLB’s worst record, 13-32.
“I don’t see a soft spot of the schedule in the big leagues,” Mendoza said. “You are still facing big league teams with big league players.”