As Reds and All-Star Alexis Diaz enjoy spoils of first half, Mets left to ponder what-ifs
SEATTLE — Impact siblings are woven into baseball’s fabric, be it the Alous or DiMaggios or more modern pairings, such as the catching siblings, Willson and William Contreras, who one year ago played in the All-Star Game together.
This year’s edition has another sibling story, one that has in ways defined the first half of this Major League Baseball season – yet it revolves around one brother who is here, and another who is missing.
The Cincinnati Reds have been baseball’s stunner, winning 21 of their past 27 games to rage into the break atop the National League Central.
And Alexis Díaz has been the glue to hold their bullpen together.
The New York Mets have been baseball’s stinker, a team slated to spend nearly $500 million on payroll yet floundering at 42-48, equally likely to dismantle the roster than enhance it.
And Edwin Díaz’s absence has in many ways been too much to bear.
He was the backbone of a 101-win Mets team one year ago, earning a $102 million contract, only to rupture a patellar tendon celebrating alongside Alexis during Puerto Rico’s World Baseball Classic victory over the Dominican Republic.
While the Mets’ problems run deep and have many tentacles, their bullpen minus Diaz exacerbates all of them. Their 4.12 ERA ranks 10th in the NL, down from 3.55 and a No. 3 ranking one year ago, when Diaz struck out 118 in 62 innings and saved 32 games.
His loss has poked open too many holes to fill.
"Sugar, the year he had last year, was just automatic," says New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. "You knew anytime he got the ball, it was going to be a shutdown inning. He was going to go out and execute.
"We miss Sugar, for sure."
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This year, it is his brother proving indispensable for a team in first place at the break.
Alexis Díaz leads the major leagues with 26 saves, striking out 61 in 40 innings, allowing just one home run and a key reason why they’re 20-16 in one-run games.
Priceless contributions, both tangible and intangible, just as his brother was.
"He’s a beast," says fellow reliever Lucas Sims. "Most of the time, when he pitches, we win. Unbelievable talent. Unbelievable teammate.
"I love sharing a clubhouse, love sharing a bullpen with him. I love learning from him. Super happy, super proud, super well-deserving."
It’s a relatively stunning rise for a player who debuted in 2022, saving 10 games in 59 appearances and striking out 83.
Raising that to an All-Star level of production and consistency came with a push from his older brother.
"I think it’s been the offseason hard work I’ve been able to do and coming into this season with much more confidence," Alexis Díaz said through a translator. "Last year gave me the ability to create that confidence and sure enough, this year is helping a lot.
"(Edwin) said, 'You know what, that (All-Star honor) is all the hard work that we’ve been able to do.' I told him, if you put in the hard work, you’re going to be able to get there."
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The older brother has done so. Edwin Díaz has at various points indicated he’d have a chance to return this year, cutting short the typical eight-month recovery timeline closer to six, with a Mets stretch drive in the offing.
That said, there needs to be something worth coming back to for the elder Díaz to leave it all on the rehab table. The Mets are fourth in their own division, 18 ½ games out of first and in eighth position in the wild card.
"Having him come back would be phenomenal," says Alonso. "But at the same time, we gotta put ourselves in a really good position to have him come back.
"We want to maximize the second half and play the best we can for as long as we can."
The Reds certainly are where the Mets want to be.
They lead the Central by a game over the Milwaukee Brewers, with superstar rookie Elly De La Cruz rightfully commanding the buzz from the last month and a gaggle of first- and second-year players gaining more confidence and conviction with each passing month.
None moreso than the man who closes out the night.
"It runs in the family. He’s got that Sugar slider," says Alonso. "He had a great teacher – he got to watch Sugar. It’s special – electric fastballs, low three-quarter slots, slingshot quick arm. It’s a tough at-bat.
"And it’s wild that they’re so wildly good."
He’s providing the Reds almost exactly what the Mets are missing – stability and context to bullpen roles. David Robertson, hired to be Edwin Díaz’s set-up man, has instead been forced into as many high-leverage situations as possible, with a gaggle of other relievers failing to level up and fill roles intended for Robertson.
Alexis Díaz? He’s "impacted not only the games he’s saved, but having that security, stability in the back end of our bullpen has allowed all our other relievers to fall into place," says Reds manager David Bell.
"Having that stability has helped the other guys pitch well."
The Reds are just halfway home, as is Diaz, who if he can repeat his first half will threaten Jeff Brantley’s club record of 44 saves.
He and Edwin talk every day, Edwin about his rehab and Alexis about his outings. Perhaps the elder Diaz will return by season’s end, or in some strange fantasy to help the Mets to the playoffs.
For Alexis, there is no imagining. Greatness is now his reality, the promise of October in reach.
"I’m just really happy for the whole team," he says. "We’ve all come together really quickly and been able to have great successes on the field.
"I can’t wait to see what happens next."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Reds All-Star closer Alexis Diaz dominates as Mets sibling mends
