Edwin Díaz DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz's velocity has been down during spring training games. The stadium radar gun had Diaz's four-seam fastball sitting between 93-95 mph during his Grapefruit League outing on Wednesday, while StatCast has him averaging 95.7 mph with his four-seamer this spring. That would be the 30-year-old right-hander's lowest velocity since 2020. However, manager Carlos Mendoza thinks Diaz's velocity will continue to increase as he approaches real games next week. Two years ago before Diaz injured his knee, he was averaging 99 mph in spring games. A rival scout watching Diaz on Wednesday said he doesn't look like "the same guy." He hasn't allowed a run in his last three spring outings, but his outings haven't been clean, either. It's possible that Diaz won't be throwing as hard as he used to, but it doesn't mean he still won't be an elite fantasy closer.

New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz told club officials that this is the best he's ever felt, according to The Athletic's Will Sammon and Tim Britton. "I made sure my arm was ready to go," Daz said. "And I feel great." Diaz wasn't able to have a normal offseason last year after missing the entire 2023 campaign due to a knee injury, and his arm wasn't exactly ready in 2024. Heading into his age-31 season, he can opt out of his contract with the Mets after this year. Beyond 2025, Diaz is guaranteed two years and $38 million. Diaz didn't exactly look like his pre-injury self last year and also missed time with a shoulder injury, but he did have a 38.9 percent strikeout rate, which was slightly down from his 40.1 percent career mark. Another year removed from his knee injury and while closing games for one of the best teams in baseball on paper, Diaz is an elite fantasy closer.

New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz earned a four-out save in Monday's 7-3 victory over the Dodgers, his second save of this postseason. The 30-year-old squashed a potential Dodgers rally in the eighth, coming on with two outs and two baserunners on, getting a flyout to end the threat. The ninth inning had its usual uneasiness for Diaz though, with the first two hitters reaching base, one via hit and one via walk, but Diaz settled down and struck out the next three hitters to close the door on Los Angeles. The veteran closer will want to clean up the 1.93 WHIP through four 2024 postseason appearances to better the Mets' chances of moving on, but 10 strikeouts in four-and-two-thirds IP certainly helps limit potential damage.