{"id":102442,"date":"2025-09-21T08:24:02","date_gmt":"2025-09-21T08:24:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=102442"},"modified":"2025-09-21T08:24:18","modified_gmt":"2025-09-21T08:24:18","slug":"%f0%9f%9a%a8%f0%9f%9a%a8%f0%9f%9a%a8diaz-drama-the-mets-are-under-fire-after-losing-to-the-nationals-with-fans-and-analysts-blasting-the-teams-decision-to-use-edwin-diaz-in-a-high-leverage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=102442","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8\ud83d\udea8DIAZ DRAMA?: The Mets are under fire after losing to the Nationals, with fans and analysts blasting the team\u2019s decision to use Edwin Diaz in a high-leverage situation. Social media is flooded with hot takes, memes, and debates questioning whether management is mishandling one of baseball\u2019s premier closers. The backlash isn\u2019t just about a single game \u2014 it\u2019s about trust, strategy, and whether the Mets can navigate the rest of the season without letting tension boil over."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"New<\/p>\n

The\u00a0New York Mets<\/a>\u00a0remain in danger of falling out of postseason contention after dropping eight consecutive games in the month of September. Although the Mets have gotten back on track since then, the\u00a0Cincinnati Reds<\/a>\u00a0have won three straight entering Saturday and are now just 2.0 games out of the final NL wild card spot.<\/p>\n

With pressure mounting, New York entered Saturday\u2019s game needing to take care of business against the\u00a0Washington Nationals<\/a>. After falling behind early, the Mets rallied back to tie the game and send it into extra innings, with both teams knotted up at 3 after superstar\u00a0Juan Soto<\/a>\u00a0singled in a run in the bottom of the ninth inning.<\/p>\n

The Mets called on their All-Star closing pitcher, Edwin Diaz, to hold the Nationals in the top of the tenth inning \u2014 and he delivered. Diaz stranded the ghost runner at second base, inducing three outs on just seven total pitches.<\/p>\n

However, the Mets were unable to score in the bottom half, and that\u2019s when manager Carlos Mendoza decided not to send Diaz back out for a second inning of work, instead turning to trade deadline acquisition Tyler Rogers. Washington took advantage of Diaz\u2019s early exit, scoring two runs and taking a 5-3 lead \u2014 which ended up being too much for New York to overcome as they lost the game. This also extended the Mets\u2019 streak to 66 straight losses when trailing entering the ninth inning.<\/p>\n

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The Mets are now 0-66 when trailing after eight innings this season pic.twitter.com\/42LFz2nj0f<\/a><\/p>\n

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) September 20, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n