Alexis Díaz is not the Reds' official closer, but he is happy in role without the label
Like all relievers, Alexis Díaz has thought about what it would mean to become a full-time closer.
He watched his older brother, Edwin, become one of the league’s best closers, and all pitchers want to be on the mound with the game on the line in the pressure-packed situations.
Díaz, however, isn’t worried about putting a label on his role. He’s just enjoying his success since he returned from the 15-day injured list in July.
“Right now, I’m just thinking of whenever the team calls on me to go out there, I’m going to go out there and do my job,” Díaz said through team interpreter Jorge Merlos. “I’m not thinking about (closer), but if the moment comes, obviously I’m going to be ready for it.”
Díaz earned a five-out save in the Reds’ 8-5 win over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday to avoid being swept. With a three-run lead, he entered in the eighth inning with the bases loaded and one out against the top of the Cubs’ lineup.
He struck out both hitters he faced in the eighth inning. Then he struck out two more batters in the ninth, pitching around an error.
“It’s pretty special,” Reds Manager David Bell said. “We know he has a great fastball, but he was also doing it with his slider. I think for any pitcher in this game, getting five outs to end the game is really difficult. He looked really comfortable doing it. Not that it was easy, he looked very comfortable out there and enjoyed it.”
Hunter Strickland was pushed out of the closer’s role after he struggled through the last few weeks. Díaz is a top option at the end of the games, but the Reds want to keep the flexibility to use him if the middle of the lineup comes up in the eighth inning, too.
“(Sunday) was impressive, but we didn’t learn a whole lot new about Díaz just because we knew he was capable of that,” Bell said. “Still very, very impressive. He’s going to get these opportunities to finish games. Hopefully, a lot. Hopefully, we win a lot of games between now and October, and he’s getting that opportunity. We also have other guys throwing the ball really well. Joel Kuhnel came in, two innings and better in the second inning. Buck Farmer really dominated in one inning.
“We have options, but Díaz, I don’t think it’s any secret. He’s pitching as well as anyone in baseball right now, so we’ll definitely keep looking to go to him in the absolute most important spots. A lot of times that will be the ninth.”
Since returning from the IL on July 8, Díaz has allowed one earned run in 14 1/3 innings (0.63 ERA) with 24 strikeouts. Only six of the last 40 batters he’s faced have reached base.
“Ever since I’ve come off the injured list, I’ve felt really good with my slider, and I’ve been using it a lot more often,” said Díaz, who induced five whiffs in eight swings against his slider Sunday. “It’s all because of the work I’ve been doing after the injured list. I’m really working hard on it. It shows that it’s paid off.”