Diekman struck out the only batter he faced to earn the save in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Cubs.
The ninth inning was far more dramatic than usual for a team protecting a three-run lead. Edwin Diaz was ejected after failing an inspection for sticky substances before he threw a pitch, and Drew Smith got two outs before putting Dansby Swanson aboard with a single. Diekman came into the game and closed it out by fanning Patrick Wisdom on three pitches. Pitching as a part-time setup man, Diekman has a 3.80 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 29:18 K:BB with three saves, six holds and two blown saves over 23.2 innings this year. With Diaz facing a 10-game suspension, it'll likely be Reed Garrett and Adam Ottavino picking up most of the save chances in the near term, though Diekman and Smith could also be in the mix depending on the situation as manager Carlos Mendoza will likely turn to a committee approach.
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Mets' Jake Diekman: Notches second save
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Diekman pitched two-thirds of an inning and picked up the save in Monday's 8-7 victory over Washington. He struck out one and did not allow a baserunner.
Adam Ottavino came on in the ninth inning to preserve a three-run Mets lead, but he allowed one earned run before exiting with one out and the bases loaded. Diekman entered the game and allowed a sacrifice fly that cut the lead to 8-7 before striking out the final batter to record his second save of the season. Diekman rebounded from Sunday's blown save, but Adam Ottavino was the first one called upon in the ninth. With Reed Garrett also in the mix for saves, the Mets bullpen situation is very unclear while Edwin Diaz (shoulder) is on the injured list.
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Mets' Jake Diekman: Blows save, takes loss
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Diekman (1-2) took the loss and blew his second save of the season Sunday against Arizona, giving up two earned runs on two hits in one-third of an inning.
Diekman came on in the ninth inning to preserve a one-run Mets lead. He allowed a leadoff double before surrendering the game-winning two-run home run to Ketel Marte. The Mets bullpen has been a disaster recently -- presumptive closer Reed Garrett gave up two home runs Friday, and Adam Ottavino yielded four earned runs in his last appearance. Garrett remains the most likely candidate for upcoming save opportunities, but the pecking order will be difficult to predict with the Mets bullpen in flux.
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Mets' Jake Diekman: Secures first save
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Diekman gave up an unearned run in the 11th inning Thursday, walking one and striking out one, to record his first save of the season in a 6-5 win over the Phillies.
The veteran southpaw couldn't stop the phantom runner from coming home thanks in part to a Pete Alonso error, but Diekman otherwise wiggled out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam to preserve the comeback win. Edwin Diaz had blown his third save of the season in the ninth inning, but the Mets aren't yet showing any inclination to make a switch at closer. Diekman's control issues could keep him out of consideration for saves even if the job does become open, however -- through 14 innings this season he has a 3.21 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 18:13 K:BB.
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Mets' Jake Diekman: Snags win Monday
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Diekman (1-0) picked up the win Monday against Atlanta, allowing one run on zero hits and one walk in an inning of relief. He struck out one.
After shutting down Atlanta in the seventh inning, the southpaw came back out for the eighth and walked Michael Harris before exiting, only to see Drew Smith eventually issue a bases-loaded walk that stuck Diekman with a run on his ledger. He still got credit for the win after the Mets took the lead for good in the top of the eighth. Diekman's 8.10 ERA on the season is a bit deceptive, as he has a 1.20 WHIP and 4:3 K:BB through 3.1 innings, and he's picked up two holds in his four appearances in addition to Monday's win.
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Mets' Jake Diekman: Job secure ahead of Opening Day
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Diekman appears locked into a spot in the Mets' Opening Day bullpen, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
The 37-year-old southpaw has pitched for four different teams over the last two seasons with mixed results, posting a 4.17 ERA and 1.48 WHIP over 114.1 innings despite 143 strikeouts, as he also issued 80 walks. Diekman's numbers were much better at the end of last year with the Rays however, and the Mets are counting on that improvement to carry forward into 2024 after signing him to a one-year, $4 million contract in February. His spring results have been relatively encouraging, as he has a 7:3 K:BB through six innings while allowing two runs. Diekman figures to be the second lefty in the bullpen behind Brooks Raley, a role that should get him back to double-digit holds after he managed only eight in 2023.
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Mets' Jake Diekman: Agrees to terms with Mets
Rotowire
Diekman signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Mets on Friday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
The deal also includes a vesting option for 2025. Diekman held a 2.18 ERA and 53:25 K:BB over 45.1 innings for the Rays last season after being released by the White Sox. The left-handed reliever has a long history of control problems and swing-and-miss ability and the Mets will be hoping for more of the latter than the former in 2024.
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Rays' Jake Diekman: Returns from paternity leave
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Diekman was activated from the paternity list by the Rays on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Diekman missed the first three games of the series against the Blue Jays but is back for the finale. Ben Heller was optioned in a corresponding move.
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Rays' Jake Diekman: Placed on paternity list
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Diekman was placed on the paternity list Monday.
Diekman will be away from the team for up to three days while with his expanding family. Right-hander Zack Burdi was called up from Triple-A Durham to replace him on the major-league roster in the meantime.
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Rays' Jake Diekman: Signs on with Tampa Bay
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Diekman finalized a one-year contract with the Rays on Wednesday.
Tampa Bay designated right-hander Chase Anderson for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster and 26-man active roster for Diekman. The 36-year-old will provide the Rays with another left-handed relief option in the wake of Garrett Cleavinger's (knee) season-ending injury. Diekman had posted a 7.94 ERA and 2.12 WHIP in 11.1 innings with the White Sox before being released over the weekend.
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Rays' Jake Diekman: Signing with Tampa Bay
Rotowire
Diekman and the Rays are set to finalize a major-league contract Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
After being released by the White Sox on Saturday, Diekman quickly found a new home with Tampa Bay. The left-hander struggled to an abysmal 7.94 ERA and 2.12 WHIP with 11 strikeouts over 11.1 innings in 13 appearances with Chicago this season. Once Diekman's deal is official, he'll provide Tampa Bay with another southpaw out of the bullpen after Garrett Cleavinger recently suffered what is likely a season-ending knee injury.
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Jake Diekman: Released by White Sox
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Diekman was released by the White Sox on Saturday, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Diekman owns a career 3.96 ERA over parts of 12 big-league seasons, but it's not clear that there's much left in his 36-year-old left arm. After he posted a 4.99 ERA last season, he owns a 7.94 ERA in 11.1 frames this year, walking more batters (13) than he struck out (11).
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White Sox's Jake Diekman: Dropped from 40-man roster
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The White Sox designated Diekman for assignment Tuesday.
Chicago needed to free up multiple 40-man roster spots as part of a slew of moves Tuesday. Diekman's tenure in Chicago went horribly, as he posted a 7.04 ERA over 39 appearances. The 36-year-old will look to catch on elsewhere after clearing waivers and might have to accept a minor-league contract at this point.
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White Sox's Jake Diekman: Dealt to White Sox
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Diekman was traded to the White Sox from the Red Sox on Monday in exchange for catcher Reese McGuire, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
Diekman has been fairly reliable this season outside of a few tough outings, but the Red Sox were willing to part with him in order to acquire another option behind the plate. Diekman has five wins and 12 holds this season, but he may not have as many opportunities to make a fantasy impact with his new squad.
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Red Sox's Jake Diekman: Suffers blown save
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Diekman suffered a blown save after he pitched one-third of an inning Wednesday, allowing an inherited run to score while giving up one hit and a walk in the loss to the Angels.
The 35-year-old was called upon to protect a one-run lead with two on and two out in the top of the ninth inning, ultimately giving up an RBI single to Jared Walsh and walking Kurt Suzuki before getting Max Stassi to fly out to end the frame. The run was charged to Hansel Robles, yet Diekman has now blown two consecutive save opportunities. The left-hander has eight holds on the season, operating mostly as the set-up man for Hansel Robles while posting a 4.15 ERA and 1.73 WHIP over 8.2 innings.
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Red Sox's Jake Diekman: Can't close out Rays
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Diekman allowed three walks and struck out one over a scoreless two-thirds of an inning in Friday's 4-3 win over the Rays.
Diekman started the ninth inning of a one-run game attempting to close out the Rays for his second save of the season, but the left-hander was unable to finish the frame. He walked three of the first four batters he faced before getting Brandon Lowe on strikes. That was it for Diekman. Enter Matt Barnes, who retired Wander Franco on a 100.9 mph groundout to second baseman Trevor Story. Diekman has been an important high-leverage piece in Boston's bullpen and should continue to be an option to close games despite Friday's command issues (12 strikes in 28 pitches).
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Red Sox's Jake Diekman: Picks up third hold
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Diekman struck out two in a perfect eighth inning to earn the hold in Sunday's 8-1 win over the Twins.
Diekman earned a save in last Sunday's win over the Yankees, and he's been credited with holds in his three other outings early in the season. Hansel Robles picked up the save Wednesday against Detroit, but it's been hard to pinpoint Boston's ninth-inning layout due to the team's lack of save situations. While Matt Barnes and Garrett Whitlock are also in the mix for late-inning work, Diekman has shown that he's a trusted high-leverage option for Boston by tossing three scoreless innings in his first four appearances of the year.
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Red Sox's Jake Diekman: Records first save
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Diekman saved Sunday's 4-3 win over the Yankees, striking out the side in the ninth inning.
Diekman was tasked with facing the daunting trio of Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Joey Gallo and sent all three back to the dugout. It took a workload of 19 pitches to do so, but the veteran southpaw got the job done. He was also called upon to protect a one-run lead in the 10th inning of the season-opening loss Friday but was charged with the ghost runner scoring after hitting a batter and intentionally walking another. Diekman is worth a look while Boston's closer situation remains unresolved and Matt Barnes is dealing with back issues.
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Red Sox's Jake Diekman: Pens deal with Boston
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Diekman finalized a two-year, $7 million contract with the Red Sox on Tuesday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports. The contract includes a $4 million club option for 2024.
Diekman and Matt Strahm both reported to Red Sox camp Tuesday, after the two lefty relievers came to terms with Boston on contracts over the weekend. Their additions will give manager Alex Cora some more options in the late innings, as Boston mostly got by with Josh Taylor as its main southpaw reliever in 2021 while Darwinzon Hernandez dealt with injury and ineffectiveness for much of the campaign. Diekman could also factor into Boston's closing picture, though any save chances he might receive would likely come against lefty-heavy lineups. The 35-year-old is coming off a 2021 campaign in which he posted a 3.86 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 83:34 K:BB in 60.2 innings while converting seven saves in 14 chances and adding 14 holds.
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Red Sox's Jake Diekman: Signs with Boston
Rotowire
The Red Sox signed Diekman on Monday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Diekman was one of two left-handed relievers recently signed by the Red Sox, the team's first two post-lockout moves. Addressing bullpen needs was the first item both manager Alex Cora and chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom mentioned when first talking with reporters. Pitching coach David Bush said Diekman figures to be in the mix for key spots late in games. "He's had a pretty good track record in leverage innings, leverage opportunities," Bush said. "I think he can get lefties and righties out. We tend not to view guys as specialists, just the way our bullpen works and he fits that." The Red Sox have yet to declare a closer, although Matt Barnes will be prominent late in games if he can shed whatever issues caused him to blow up in the second half of 2021.
