Alexis Díaz is not the Reds' official closer, but he is happy in role without the label
Like all relievers, Alexis Díaz has thought about what it would mean to become a full-time closer.
He watched his older brother, Edwin, become one of the league’s best closers, and all pitchers want to be on the mound with the game on the line in the pressure-packed situations.
Díaz, however, isn’t worried about putting a label on his role. He’s just enjoying his success since he returned from the 15-day injured list in July.
“Right now, I’m just thinking of whenever the team calls on me to go out there, I’m going to go out there and do my job,” Díaz said through team interpreter Jorge Merlos. “I’m not thinking about (closer), but if the moment comes, obviously I’m going to be ready for it.”
Díaz earned a five-out save in the Reds’ 8-5 win over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday to avoid being swept. With a three-run lead, he entered in the eighth inning with the bases loaded and one out against the top of the Cubs’ lineup.
He struck out both hitters he faced in the eighth inning. Then he struck out two more batters in the ninth, pitching around an error.
“It’s pretty special,” Reds Manager David Bell said. “We know he has a great fastball, but he was also doing it with his slider. I think for any pitcher in this game, getting five outs to end the game is really difficult. He looked really comfortable doing it. Not that it was easy, he looked very comfortable out there and enjoyed it.”
Hunter Strickland was pushed out of the closer’s role after he struggled through the last few weeks. Díaz is a top option at the end of the games, but the Reds want to keep the flexibility to use him if the middle of the lineup comes up in the eighth inning, too.
“(Sunday) was impressive, but we didn’t learn a whole lot new about Díaz just because we knew he was capable of that,” Bell said. “Still very, very impressive. He’s going to get these opportunities to finish games. Hopefully, a lot. Hopefully, we win a lot of games between now and October, and he’s getting that opportunity. We also have other guys throwing the ball really well. Joel Kuhnel came in, two innings and better in the second inning. Buck Farmer really dominated in one inning.
“We have options, but Díaz, I don’t think it’s any secret. He’s pitching as well as anyone in baseball right now, so we’ll definitely keep looking to go to him in the absolute most important spots. A lot of times that will be the ninth.”
Since returning from the IL on July 8, Díaz has allowed one earned run in 14 1/3 innings (0.63 ERA) with 24 strikeouts. Only six of the last 40 batters he’s faced have reached base.
“Ever since I’ve come off the injured list, I’ve felt really good with my slider, and I’ve been using it a lot more often,” said Díaz, who induced five whiffs in eight swings against his slider Sunday. “It’s all because of the work I’ve been doing after the injured list. I’m really working hard on it. It shows that it’s paid off.”
Art Warren close to returning to Cincinnati Reds bullpen
Art Warren is on the verge of returning to the Reds’ bullpen, completing his fourth appearance on a rehab assignment Sunday.
He pitched a scoreless inning at High-A Dayton with a strikeout.
“I like where I’m at,” Warren said Saturday. “I feel like the slider is right where I want it. I think the fastball is getting back to the top of the zone, so I’m really happy with where I’m at.”
Warren, sidelined since July 4 with a right pronator strain, has allowed 26 hits and 22 runs in 28 2/3 innings this season (6.91 ERA).
“Overall, I’m feeling a little more connected with my mechanics. I like where my pitches are ending up. I think early on, in the first half, pitches weren’t finishing very well. It could’ve been because of the elbow and subconsciously holding back and whatnot. I have no idea. Right now, I’m really liking where my slider is finishing and I’m driving fastballs to the top of the zone, so I’m really liking where I’m at.”
Cincinnati Reds sign Derek Law to minor league contract
The Reds signed right-handed pitcher Derek Law to a minor league contract Sunday.
Law, 31, pitched two innings for the Detroit Tigers a couple of weeks ago, allowing four hits and five runs (one earned). At Triple-A, he’s posted a 3.23 ERA in 39 innings with 44 strikeouts and 10 walks.
He made 109 relief appearances for the San Francisco Giants from 2016-18, and he had a regular role in Toronto’s bullpen in 2019.
Reds injury updates: Hunter Greene, Jeff Hoffman and Connor Overton
Hunter Greene, on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain, played catch before Sunday’s game at Great American Ball Park. The Reds are hopeful he will return this year.
Jeff Hoffman, who returned to Cincinnati during the team’s last road trip for medical exams, was cleared to play catch Monday. He’s been on the 15-day IL since July 24 with right forearm tightness.
“It was a little bit different pain than he had felt that kind of started this whole process,” Bell said. “That was concerning enough that he came back to Cincinnati and since been checked out a couple of times by the doctors. I believe it was (Saturday), he saw the doctors again, they cleared him and now he’ll play catch.”
Right-handed starter Connor Overton, who has been out since May with a stress reaction in his back, remains on target to rejoin the Reds in September.
“He’s been throwing bullpens,” Bell said. “Live BP is next. It might be two live BPs, and then talk about getting into a (rehab) game. It’d be great to get him back in September for our team and for Connor, get him back pitching. It’s been a long road, but it sounds like he’s getting near the end of it.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Alexis Diaz happy in role without closer title, Reds sign Derek Law
