Pittsburgh – Edwin Diaz Tests New Changeup
During his time with the Mets, Edwin Diaz primarily relied on fastballs and sliders. However, he experimented with a changeup this week, particularly in his outing against the Braves.
Diaz, although excited about the prospect, lacked the confidence to fully commit to the pitch during the game. He concluded that it still requires some refinement.
Interestingly, he clocked his changeup at 95 miles per hour, which is not too far from his fastball. Ideally, he aims to throw the changeup in the low 90s.
“I was curious to see how it would perform in-game,” Diaz shared just before a tough loss to the Pirates. “It didn’t turn out well. I threw it at 100%, but when we practice, I usually throw at 60%, which allows for better movement. I need to find a way to dial it back a bit.”
According to Statcast, Diaz, who did not pitch in the recent loss, typically throws a fastball 51.8% of the time and utilizes sliders 48% of the time, with the occasional changeup.
Why incorporate a changeup? Diaz believes it could keep hitters on their toes. “But I need to ensure it’s an effective pitch,” he added. “If it doesn’t feel right, I’ll stick to my fastball and slider.”
Given the right-hander’s impressive 1.99 ERA in 32 outings this season, it’s hard to ignore what’s been working for him.
He’s also been successful in 17 of his save opportunities. His strong first half has positioned him as a candidate for the All-Star Game; though he was selected in 2022, he didn’t get to play.
Notably, teammates Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, and Juan Soto are also finalists for the NL roster.
“It’s nice to be in that mix,” Diaz remarked. “As a player, getting that recognition is a goal I set at the beginning of the season.”
He kicked off the season a bit late, initially struggling with a 4.50 ERA in April. Yet, over the past couple of months, he’s turned things around. Leading up to Saturday, he had just one loss in his last 20 appearances, along with a remarkable 0.41 ERA.
“The first month wasn’t my best, but I began to feel more comfortable,” he noted. “I’ve improved my command. Early on, I was walking too many players, but now I feel I’m making better pitches.”
Diaz is careful not to overstate his performance compared to 2022 when his metrics included a strikeout rate of 50.2% and a 1.31 ERA. This season, his strikeout rate sits at 36.8%.
Still, he’s found positives. “My strikeout rate is solid, and I’m feeling good about how I’m pitching,” he said. “I’m attacking the batters. I believe I’m having a strong season.”
In recent games against the Braves, Diaz’s usage went up; he appeared three times in four games after a period of not being in high-leverage situations. Manager Carlos Mendoza is cautiously tracking Diaz’s workload.
“I feel great physically,” Diaz articulated. “I know my body well, so I don’t need to pitch every few days. If there’s not a save opportunity, I can still throw in the bullpen and be prepared when called upon.”
