Edwin Diaz is set to face the New York Mets this week when the Mets open a three-game road series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, a matchup that already carries more weight because of how much his arm has changed since he left Queens. The Dodgers’ closer and former Met has been dealing with a drop in velocity, and his availability for the series opener is still not settled.
Diaz gave up three runs in his latest appearance and averaged 95.5 mph on his four-seam fastball, a step down from the 97.2 mph he averaged last season with the Mets. This season, his four-seam fastball is averaging 95.8 mph, and he has a 6.00 ERA with 10 strikeouts, a 1.67 WHIP and is 4-for-5 on saves. That is a stark contrast to his 2025 season with New York, when he posted a 1.63 ERA, struck out 98 and converted 28 saves in 31 chances.
Dave Roberts said Monday that Diaz played catch and “feels great,” and that the Dodgers’ training staff had already completed initial manual testing to rule out any injuries. Roberts still needs to check with the training staff before deciding whether Diaz is available tonight, but he expects the right-hander to pitch in the three-game set if a save chance comes up. The Dodgers signed Diaz to a three-year, $69 million deal during the Winter Meetings last December after the Mets offered him three years and $66 million.
The velocity issue is the part that matters now. Diaz was one of the Mets’ most dominant relievers before leaving in free agency, and the concern is not about where he has pitched before but whether his fastball is still operating at the level that made him elite. The backdrop to this series is also less than calm in New York, where the Mets were reported to be furious that Diaz never gave them a chance to match or top the Dodgers’ final offer.
For the Mets, this trip to Los Angeles is more than another road series. It is a first look at whether Diaz can still close with the same force, and a reminder that the reliever they built around for years is now wearing a different uniform.
