Díaz discusses suspension after return to Mets' bullpen

PITTSBURGH -- After serving a 10-game sticky substance suspension that stemmed from an incident on June 23, Mets closer Edwin Díaz took some time before Saturday’s 5-2 win over the Pirates at PNC Park, in which he secured the save in the ninth, to reflect on his time away.

Despite remaining consistent in his stance that the substance was a combination of sweat, rosin and dirt, Díaz said he elected not to appeal the league’s decision so that he and his team could turn the page and put it behind them. The right-hander said that while it was tough having to watch his team -- and bullpen in particular -- struggle mightily in his absence, he doesn't feel guilty about the situation.

“I was using the right stuff they allow us to use, so I didn't feel guilty,” he said. “They said I was using an illegal substance, but I feel fine because I didn't use anything wrong.”

Díaz also said that he doesn't plan to change his routine on the mound despite the suspension.

"I’m going to keep doing my same thing,” he said. “Doing [what] I was doing, rubbing rosin, sweat and dirt. I think I should be fine.”

Manager Carlos Mendoza said he, along with other managers across the league, has continued to have conversations with his players about the rules. Still, Díaz believes the rule still needs to be ironed out.

“That’s their rule. They’ve got to work on that,” he said. “I think they’ve got to maybe maintain something in a line to tell us what is sticky and what is not sticky. But at the end of the day, that’s their rule. They made their decision.”

Díaz threw a bullpen and a pair of live batting practice sessions during his layoff but hasn't pitched in a live game in 13 days. Neither he nor Mendoza is worried about any rust from the long layoff between outings. Mendoza said Díaz will be available for Saturday’s contest against Pittsburgh.

A seamless return for Díaz in the late innings would be a welcomed sight for a Mets bullpen that has posted an 8.37 ERA in his absence, the worst mark in MLB during that stretch. The team also recalled hard-throwing prospect Eric Orze from Triple-A Syracuse prior to Saturday's contest to help with bullpen depth.

Díaz is the third Mets player to be suspended for a sticky substance violation in the past 15 months, joining former Met Max Scherzer and Drew Smith, neither of whom appealed their decision. Six others across the league have been suspended for related incidents since MLB began enforcing sticky stuff checks in 2021.