With Díaz in tow, Mets' bullpen shows its upside

PITTSBURGH -- Mets manager Carlos Mendoza was forced to get creative in the late innings during the past 10 games while he and the team waited out Edwin Díaz's suspension.

With Brooks Raley and Drew Smith likely out for the season with injuries and Sean Reid-Foley not expected back until after the All-Star Game, multiple relievers were promoted from Triple-A Syracuse and others had to shuffle around, oftentimes playing out of their usual role in the bullpen. The problem became more and more glaring as Díaz’s suspension winded down and finally apexed Friday night in a blowout 14-2 loss.

With Díaz back in the mix on Saturday, the bullpen returned to form by firing 4 2/3 shutout innings, helping seize a 5-2 victory at PNC Park. This time, everybody in the bullpen executed their assignment.

“Obviously, it’s a totally different ballgame when you know you have Edwin Díaz ready to go in the ninth,” Mendoza said. “I was able to be more aggressive making a decision [to get starting pitcher David Peterson] out of the game.

“Huge bounceback win and great job by the bullpen today.”

After posting an 8.37 ERA in their closer’s absence, the worst mark in MLB during that stretch, the Mets hope a performance like this signals a turning point for the group.

Once Peterson departed with a one-run lead after throwing 4 1/3 innings of two-run ball, the stage was set for the Mets’ bullpen. Right-hander Jose Butto was first out of the bullpen and earned his second victory in as many outings after firing 1 2/3 scoreless innings without allowing a hit.

While Peterson only threw 87 pitches, Mendoza wanted to get a right-handed pitcher into the game to face Ke’Bryan Hayes. Midgame relief isn't a role that’s particularly familiar for 26-year-old Buttó -- fifteen of his nineteen career appearances have come as a starter -- but it’s one that he’s recently proven he can excel in when called upon.

Mendoza gave Buttó a heads-up that he would be entering the game in the fifth inning, and the reliever flourished, lowering his season ERA to 2.81.

“He’s looked really good,” Mendoza said. “The biggest thing, as he continues to adjust with his role, is making sure we give him enough time to get ready, which was the case today.”

Second-year Met Reed Garrett followed Buttó with a pair of strikeouts to accompany his scoreless inning. While the Pirates threatened with their biggest scoring opportunity against the Mets’ bullpen, Garrett worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out situation thanks to a nifty stab on a line drive up the middle by Francisco Lindor followed by a strikeout of Jack Suwinski.

Dedniel Núñez, one of the bright spots in New York’s bullpen this season with a 2.33 ERA in 27 innings in relief, followed suit in the eighth, retiring Nick Gonzales, Joshua Palacios and Joey Bart in order on just eight pitches.

That set the stage for Díaz, who fittingly recorded his eighth save of the season in the ninth inning, his first since June 18. After hitting Oneil Cruz on the third pitch of his outing, Díaz settled down and struck out Rowdy Tellez on four pitches before getting Andrew McCutchen to ground into a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.

The closer said he didn't feel nervous ahead of the outing, and he went through his usual routine as he prepared to enter the game and eventually footed the rubber.

“I felt really good,” Díaz said. “I was ready. I was a little bit anxious in the first hitter after I hit [Cruz]. I settled down and just tried to make pitches.”

Díaz said he moved on the same day of the incident that caused his suspension, and now he feels he can get back to just playing baseball.

“I apologized to the guys because we left them for 10 days. I watched basically 11 games because on Sunday [two weeks ago] I didn't pitch. … After that, everyone was with me. They had my back. Everything was good.”