ALEXIS DÍAZ NEWS

Reds, Alexis Diaz seek bounce-back series vs. A's One of the bright spots for the Cincinnati Reds this season has been the performance of closer Alexis Diaz, but he’ll be aiming to rebound l...

AUGUST 26, 2024 • SUNHERALD.COM

Yields walk-off homer Diaz blew the save Sunday against Pittsburgh, allowing two runs on one hit and a hit-by-pitch over one-third of an inning.

Impact The Reds took a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth, but Diaz couldn't get the job done. After getting Rowdy Tellez to ground out to start the frame, Diaz hit Bryan De La Cruz with a pitch then surrendered a walk-off two-run home run to Yasmani Grandal. The 27-year-old closer is now 24-for-27 in save opportunities this season and the outing pushed his ERA from 4.00 to 4.37.

AUGUST 25, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Earns 24th save Diaz earned the save against the Cardinals on Tuesday, walking one and striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.

Impact Diaz was called upon to protect a 4-1 lead in the ninth and tallied his 24th save of the year on 18 pitches. The 27-year-old has nailed down 17 consecutive save chances and owns a 4.07 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 41:26 K:BB across 42 innings this season.

AUGUST 14, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Perfect for 23rd save Diaz picked up the save Sunday against Milwaukee, striking out two during a perfect ninth inning.

Impact Diaz needed only 14 pitches to retire Willy Adames, Garrett Mitchell and Joey Ortiz in order. The 27-year-old reliever has converted on 23 of his 25 save chances this season and has a 4.17 ERA with a 40:25 K:BB across 41 innings.

AUGUST 12, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Yields run but secures save Diaz earned a save against the Giants on Saturday, allowing one run on one hit over one inning.

Impact Diaz entered in the ninth frame with Cincinnati holding a three-run lead and surrendered a solo homer to Matt Chapman on his third pitch. However, the closer rebounded to retire the next three batters and nail down the save. Diaz has converted each of his past 15 save chances and is 22-for-24 on save opportunities overall this season.

AUGUST 4, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Notches save No. 21 Diaz picked up the save Tuesday against Chicago, allowing one walk and no hits across a scoreless ninth inning.

Impact Diaz converted on his 14th consecutive save chance and fired his second consecutive hitless appearance. The 27-year-old has a 4.23 ERA in 38.1 but has generally been reliable in the ninth inning, having blown merely two saves. Diaz is one of eight closers with more than 20 saves on the season.

JULY 31, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Notches save No. 21 Diaz picked up the save Tuesday against Chicago, allowing one walk and no hits across a scoreless ninth inning.

Impact Diaz converted on his 14th consecutive save chance and fired his second consecutive hitless appearance. The 27-year-old has a 4.23 ERA in 38.1 innings but has generally been reliable in the ninth inning, having blown merely two saves. Diaz is one of eight closers with more than 20 saves on the season.

JULY 31, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up 20th save Diaz picked up the save Friday against the Rays, striking out one in a clean ninth inning.

Impact Diaz entered a game in a save situation for the first time since July 3rd and pitched around the inherited runner to grab the save on Friday. Diaz became the 12th reliever with 20 saves this season as he has now converted in each of his last 13 save opportunities. The 27-year-old has pitched to a 4.34 ERA through 37.1 innings this season.

JULY 27, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up 20th save Diaz picked up the save Friday against the Rays, striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.

Impact Diaz got his first save situation since July 3 and worked around an inherited runner to convert it successfully. He became the 12th reliever with 20 saves this season, and he has now converted 13 straight opportunities. The 27-year-old has pitched to a 4.34 ERA through 37.1 innings this season.

JULY 27, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Continues to roll with 19th save Diaz earned a save against the Yankees on Wednesday, allowing one walk in a scoreless inning.

Impact Diaz entered in the ninth frame to protect a one-run lead and was successful despite issuing a leadoff walk. The Cincinnati closer has tossed seven straight scoreless outings, allowing just one hit during that span while recording five saves. Diaz has rebounded well from his early-season struggles, as he's been successful in each of his past 13 save opportunities and has registered a 1.53 ERA across 17.2 frames over that stretch.

JULY 4, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Perfect for 18th save Diaz picked up the save Tuesday against the Yankees, striking out one across a perfect ninth inning.

Impact Diaz only needed nine pitches to retire Trent Grisham, Austin Wells and Anthony Volpe in order Tuesday. Diaz has fired five consecutive scoreless innings and is up to 18 saves on the season which is tied for eighth most in baseball. Despite the strong save total, Diaz owns a 4.60 ERA across 31.1 innings.

JULY 3, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Notches 17th save Diaz gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to record his 17th save of the season in a 5-2 win over the Red Sox.

Impact The right-hander has mostly put his rough start to the season behind him. Diaz has converted 10 straight save chances over his last 12 appearances, posting a 2.31 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 12:6 K:BB through 11.2 innings during that stretch. Despite his 5.08 ERA and 1.48 WHIP on the season, he has a firm grip on Cincinnati's closer job.

JUNE 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Grabs 10th save Diaz struck out both batters he faced to pick up his 10th save of the season Sunday against the Dodgers.

Impact Diaz closed the door on the Dodgers for the second-consecutive game, though he ran both counts full and needed 16 pitches to record the final two outs. It was the fourth-consecutive scoreless outing for Diaz, who appears to be turning things around after allowing 17 baserunners and 10 runs (nine earned) while blowing a save and earning two losses over his previous seven appearances spanning 5.2 innings between April 29 and May 19.

MAY 26, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Earns ninth save Diaz threw a perfect ninth inning against the Dodgers on Saturday to secure his ninth save of the season.

Impact Diaz sat down Freddie Freeman, Will Smith and Teoscar Hernandez on a total of seven pitches to nail down the win for starter Hunter Greene. While Diaz still has an ugly 5.95 ERA this season, his job as the Reds' closer is not in jeopardy. He's squandered just one save in his last 10 chances, and with only two hits and two walks allowed in his last four appearances, Diaz seems to have turned the page after a rough stretch in mid-May.

MAY 26, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Rebounds for eighth save Diaz earned the save in Tuesday's 2-0 win over the Padres, logging a strikeout and a walk in a scoreless inning.

Impact After issuing a leadoff walk to Jurickson Profar in the ninth, Diaz struck out Manny Machado before inducing a game-ending double play off the bat of Jake Cronenworth to close out the shutout victory. It's an encouraging bounce-back effort from Diaz, who'd allowed five runs (four earned) in his previous three appearances (2.1 innings) while taking a pair of losses and a blown save. The 27-year-old right-hander still sports a subpar 6.62 ERA with a 1.64 WHIP and 18:14 K:BB across 17.2 innings while securing eight saves in 10 opportunities this season.

MAY 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Blown save in 2024 debut Diaz (0-1) was charged with the blown save and the loss Saturday against the Nationals. He allowed three runs on two hits and two walks while striking out one batter in one-third o...

Impact Diaz had some calls go against him and the game-tying run came across on a hit-by-pitch that just grazed Keibert Ruiz's uniform. Still, it was a rather uninspiring performance as Diaz's stuff looked flat and his command was off. Diaz ran out of steam last year, but he should still have a decent leash in the closer role. Emilio Pagan, Lucas Sims and Brent Suter represent the top options behind Diaz should he fail to get on track.

MARCH 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Loses again Diaz (9-6) suffered Saturday's loss, allowing four runs on five hits over two-thirds of an inning to Pittsburgh.

Impact Diaz, who has allowed multiple runs in four of his last 11 appearances, was tagged with a second consecutive loss. The 26-year-old made his career-high 68th appearance, which may be part of the reason a recent falloff -- 7.45 ERA over the last 9.2 innings. Cincinnati's bullpen, which has saved the team throughout the season, has blown leads the three games, as the Reds fell 2.5 games back in the wild card race with six games remaining.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Tagged with blown save, loss Diaz (9-5) was tagged with the loss and a blown save to the Twins on Wednesday. He allowed three runs on two hits and one walk over a third of an inning.

Impact Diaz's line looks much worse than what actually transpired: a 34.6-mph infield single, a stolen base with a throwing error that moved the runner to the third, then a 70.4-mph soft liner to drive in a run. Following a walk, the closer was replaced by Sam Moll. After a double steal and intentional walk, Jorge Polanco singled in two runs, both charged to Diaz. This was just Diaz's third blown save in 40 opportunities.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Unavailable for save Diaz was not available to pitch Saturday when Derek Law recorded the save in a 3-2 win over the Mets, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Impact Diaz had thrown a total of 57 pitches over three of the previous days, including a five-out save Friday, so manager David Bell opted for Law, who earned his second save of the season.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Earns five-out save Diaz picked up the save Friday against the Mets. He struck out two over 1.2 perfect innings.

Impact Diaz was called upon to face Pete Alonso with the tying runs on base and one out in the eighth inning but induced a couple of flyouts to Alonso and Jeff McNeil to preserve the lead. He continued with a perfect ninth to secure his 37th save on the season. He's now tied with Camilo Doval of the Giants for the National League lead in saves.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Notches ninth win Diaz (9-4) earned the win Tuesday against Detroit. He struck out one while working a clean inning.

Impact Diaz shut down the Tigers in the bottom of the ninth inning, retiring all three batters faced and marking his third straight scoreless outing. He then benefitted from a game-winning RBI single by Tyler Stephenson in the top of the 10th inning to earn his ninth win. Diaz has a 2.19 ERA and 80:29 K:BB over 61.2 innings this season.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Needed in non-save situation Diaz allowed three runs on two hits while not retiring a batter in Sunday's 15-7 loss to the Cubs.

Impact A depleted pitching staff caught up with the Reds, as a slugfest used up several pitchers before Diaz entered a 5-5 game in the eighth inning. The bases were loaded when the closer entered, and Diaz sandwiched a pair to two-run singles around a throwing error of his own. The silver lining is that he used up only 14 pitches, and Diaz should be available if a save opportunity presents itself Monday against Seattle.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Collects seventh win Diaz (7-4) picked up the win in the second game of Friday's doubleheader against the Cubs, giving up a hit and striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.

Impact The Cincy closer got the call in the top of the ninth with his team down 2-1 at home, and he was rewarded with the win when the Reds staged a rally against his Chicago counterpart Adbert Alzolay. Diaz has collected four of his seven wins (plus two of his 35 saves) over his last seven appearances as Cincinnati tries to secure a playoff spot, a stretch in which he has a 0.00 ERA and 0.91 WHIP despite a 7:5 K:BB.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Notches 35th save Diaz walked one and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday to record his 35th save of the season in a 4-1 win over the Giants.

Impact He needed 20 pitches (12 strikes) to get the job done after walking Patrick Bailey to begin the frame, but Diaz got a little defensive help from Elly De La Cruz to avoid any further trouble. Diaz's 35 saves ties him for the NL lead with Camilo Doval, but the Reds' closer is showing signs of wearing down -- through 10.1 innings in August, he has a 10:8 K:BB to go along with his 2.61 ERA and 1.26 WHIP.

AUGUST 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Blows save, snags win Diaz (6-4) allowed three unearned runs on a hit and a walk while striking out one over one inning, taking a blown save but earning the win Saturday over the Diamondbacks.

Impact A Matt McLain error in the 10th inning allowed the Diamondbacks to extend a rally, erasing the Reds' three-run lead. Cincinnati retook the lead in the 11th, and Lucas Sims secured the save to allow Diaz to back into a win. Diaz has allowed seven runs (three earned) across 9.1 innings while posting a 9:7 K:BB in August -- shaky work for one of the better closers in the game this year. He's at a 2.22 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 77:27 K:BB through 56.2 innings while going 34-for-36 in save chances.

AUGUST 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE