Diaz allowed three runs on three hits and one walk over 1.1 innings in Monday's 6-3 loss to Miami. He also hit a batter.
Diaz stranded a pair of inherited runners to get out of the sixth inning but ran into trouble in the seventh, when pinch hitter Kyle Stowers took him deep for a three-run home run. It was the first time in four outings that Diaz was scored upon. The former closer has allowed four hits and four walks while striking two over four innings.
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Reds' Alexis Diaz: Secures Friday's win
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Diaz struck out one over a scoreless ninth inning in Friday's 8-3 win over the Orioles.
Diaz needed 15 pitches (nine strikes) to retire the heart of Baltimore's order. It wasn't a save situation nor was it a close game, but it was the former closer's first time pitching in the ninth inning since being activated off the injured list. Diaz was used in the sixth and seventh innings in his first two appearances. This could be the first tentative steps by manager Terry Francona to get Diaz back into the closer's role.
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Reds' Alexis Diaz: Will not close right away
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Reds manager Terry Francona said Tuesday that Diaz will not be the team's set closer, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.
The skipper plans to use Diaz, who was activated from the 15-day injured list Tuesday, "when it makes sense." There's a good chance Diaz will eventually get his closer job back if he pitches well, but Francona has been pleased with Emilio Pagan's performance and it sounds like Pagan will continue serving as the club's primary closer for the time being.
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Reds' Alexis Diaz: Activated from 15-day injured list
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The Reds activated Diaz (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday.
Diaz has been shelved with a strained hamstring that threw his mechanics out of whack, but he's been deemed ready to go after making five rehab appearances with Triple-A Louisville. The reliever was tagged for four runs (three earned) on six hits and four walks while striking out eight over five innings during the stint, so the Reds might not entrust Diaz with the closer job right out of the chute. That said, manager Terry Francona has indicated a desire for Diaz to regain his closer job, so the 28-year-old looks like the best bet for saves in the Reds' bullpen over the long haul.
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Reds' Alexis Diaz: Could be activated Tuesday
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Diaz (hamstring) rejoined the Reds on Sunday, and manager Terry Francona suggested that while the right-hander could be activated from the 15-day injured list ahead of Tuesday's series opener versus the Mariners, an official decision has yet to be made, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.
Cincinnati seemingly has a spot on the 26-man active roster ready to go for Diaz, as the team placed reliever Sam Moll (shoulder) on the 15-day IL on Monday and didn't immediately announce a corresponding move. Diaz, who suffered a left hamstring strain late in spring training, made five appearances during his recent rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville, giving up four runs (three earned) on six hits and four walks while striking out eight over five innings. Despite the so-so results, Diaz told Goldsmith that he thought he threw the ball well over his final few outings with Louisville, and the 28-year-old feels that the mechanical adjustments he's made while on the shelf have left him prepared to find success if the Reds turn to him as their closer. Francona told Goldsmith last week that he wants Diaz to be the team's closer, but it's unclear if the skipper will immediately deploy Diaz in high-leverage spots once he's activated, or if he'll be eased into such situations.
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Reds' Alexis Diaz: Ready for back-to-back appearances
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Diaz (hamstring) will make back-to-back appearances with Triple-A Louisville on Friday and Saturday, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.
This sets Diaz up for a return early next week, assuming he bounces back well from the back-to-backs. Reds manager Terry Francona has said on multiple occasions that he wants to get Diaz back in the closer role eventually, but it's not a lock that the right-hander will immediately reclaim ninth-inning duties. The hamstring injury affected Diaz's command and control in spring training, as evidenced by his five walks in 3.1 Cactus League innings.
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Reds' Alexis Diaz: Staying at Triple-A for now
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Reds manager Terry Francona said Sunday that Diaz (hamstring) is expected to remain at Triple-A Louisville before being activated from the injured list, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
Francona said this before Diaz threw an inning for the Bats on Sunday. Diaz has struggled with command since suffering a hamstring injury early in spring training, and the plan is for him to pitch Wednesday and Thursday for Louisville. The back-to-back-day sequence is typically a tell that teams are preparing a pitcher to be activated. Francona also mentioned that he wants Diaz to be the team's closer, but that Diaz is not ready physically for the job in his current state.
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Reds' Alexis Diaz: Makes second rehab outing
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Diaz (hamstring) allowed one unearned run on one hit and one walk while striking out one over one inning for Triple-A Louisville on Sunday.
It was rehab day for Louisville, which featured starter Andrew Abbott (shoulder) making his second rehab start and Diaz's second rehab outing. The reliever has already healed from a left hamstring strain, per Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, but he might get another rehab appearance before the Reds activate him. Diaz is not guaranteed to resume his duties as Cincinnati's closer.
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Reds' Alexis Diaz: Needs multiple rehab outings
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Manager Terry Francona said Sunday that Diaz (hamstring) will make at least a couple more appearances on his rehab assignment before being reinstated from the 15-day injured list, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.
The right-hander began the rehab stint with Triple-A Louisville on Friday and delivered a scoreless frame, but the Reds want to see him get a few outings in the minors before making his season debut in the majors. Diaz remains the favorite to close games once activated, though he could see lower-leverage chances early on to ease him into the role.
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Reds' Alexis Diaz: Throws live batting practice
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Diaz (hamstring) threw a live batting practice session Tuesday, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.
Diaz continues to work on his mechanics after they were thrown off following a hamstring injury. The reliever is eligible for activation from the 15-day injured list April 8, but there has not been an established timetable for his return yet. Reds manager Terry Francona has indicated he would like Diaz to get his closer job back when he's healthy and his mechanics are in order. Emilio Pagan has recorded the Reds' lone save so far, while Ian Gibaut has a blown save.
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Reds' Alexis Diaz: Working on mechanics
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Diaz (hamstring) is working with coaches on his mechanics, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
Apparently, the hamstring injury impacted the reliever's mechanics, which led to command and control issues. "Stability with his front leg is probably the biggest thing," Cincinnati manager Terry Francona said of Diaz. "Then, incorporating that into his delivery, where that becomes comfortable and almost second nature." It's uncertain when Diaz will be ready to rejoin the team, or if he'll automatically resume his role as the team's closer.
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Reds' Alexis Diaz: Goes on IL
Rotowire
The Reds placed Diaz (hamstring) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Diaz's placement on the IL is retroactive to Monday, so he could be activated as soon as April 8, assuming he's fully moved past his hamstring injury by then. The 28-year-old has notched at least 25 saves in consecutive seasons, but he struggled to keep his walks in check in both years and saw his strikeout rate dip to 22.7 percent in 2024. The control problems cropped up again this spring, which put Diaz's status as the Reds' closer on shaky ground even before he was diagnosed with hamstring inflammation. The Reds are seemingly prepared to take a committee approach to the closer position to begin the season, and if a reliever is quickly able to gain the trust of manager Terry Francona in the late innings, Diaz may not be in the mix for save chances once he's healthy.
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Reds' Alexis Diaz: Out with hamstring injury
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Diaz was diagnosed with hamstring inflammation Sunday and will begin the season on the injured list, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
The right-hander had struggles with his command throughout spring training with five walks and two hit batters in four appearances, and he'll now be unavailable due to the hamstring issue. It's unclear how long Diaz is expected to be sidelined, with Scott Barlow, Taylor Rogers and Graham Ashcraft the likely candidates to fill in at closer for the Reds.
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Reds' Alexis Diaz: May not close games
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Diaz had command issues in an outing against White Sox minor leaguers Friday, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. In a subsequent report from Wittenmyer, Reds manager Terry Francona was not ready to endorse Diaz as the Reds' closer.
"I think we still have some work to do," Francona said. "We want to make sure he's got his legs under him, with his delivery and everything. We know what he can do. We just want to make sure he's ready to do it." Diaz pitched a scoreless inning Friday but only 10 of 20 pitches were deemed strikes. He hadn't pitched a clean inning all spring before a poor outing March 15 prompted he and pitching coach Derek Johnson to work on his delivery. Wittenmyer named Graham Ashcraft as a potential candidate to replace Diaz in the ninth inning. Francona expects Diaz to throw one more inning Sunday in the team's final Cactus League game before camp breaks.
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Reds' Alexis Diaz: To pitch in minors game Tuesday
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Diaz will pitch in a minor-league game Tuesday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Diaz was shelled for five runs on three hits and three walks while recording just one out in his last Cactus League appearance Saturday. Reds manager Terry Francona had a less than favorable review of Diaz's outing afterward, saying the reliever has "got to lock it in here," per Sheldon. It appears the team has determined the best spot for Diaz to attempt to get back on track, at least initially, is in a less pressurized situation. Diaz has made only three appearances this spring due to a hamstring issue and he also developed a cut on his right thumb during Saturday's appearance, although Francona contended that the thumb issue had nothing to do with Diaz's struggles in the outing. The 28-year-old entered camp as the clear favorite to serve as the Reds' closer, but his grip on the job might be tenuous. Taylor Rogers, Emilio Pagan, Tony Santillan and Scott Barlow loom as closer alternatives if Francona wants to go in another direction, with Rogers perhaps the favorite of the bunch.
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Reds' Alexis Diaz: Makes spring debut
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Diaz (hamstring) allowed one hit and one walk over a scoreless inning in Sunday's spring game against the Angels.
Diaz made his Cactus League debut, entering in the fifth inning after starter Graham Ashcraft worked the first four frames. Diaz was held out of early spring games as a precaution after he felt something in his hamstring during pitcher fielding drills. The Reds' closer is confident he'll be ready for Opening Day.
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Reds' Alexis Diaz: Settles with Cincinnati
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The Reds and Diaz avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4.5 million contract Thursday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
It's a substantial raise for Diaz, who was in his first year of arbitration eligibility. The closer saved 28 games for the Reds in 2024 but had a lackluster season overall, collecting a 3.99 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 55:31 K:BB across 56.1 frames. Diaz is slated to open 2025 in the closer role again, but new manager Terry Francona might not give him a long leash.
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Reds' Alexis Diaz: Up to 28 saves
Rotowire
Diaz earned the save in Tuesday's 6-5 win over Atlanta, allowing one hit while striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.
Atlanta made things interesting in the ninth with a two-out single followed by a stolen base. However, Diaz proceeded to strike out Michael Harris, stranding the tying run on second to lock down his 28th save this season. The 27-year-old Diaz has now delivered seven straight scoreless appearances (seven innings), allowing just one hit while striking out seven in that span. His ERA is down to 4.14 on the year with a 1.27 WHIP and 54:28 K:BB across 54.1 innings.
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Reds' Alexis Diaz: Earns 27th save
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Diaz pitched a perfect ninth inning Monday to pick up the save against Atlanta. He did not allow a hit or a walk and did not collect a strikeout.
Diaz entered a 1-0 game and kept Atlanta off the bases for his 27th save and third in his last four appearances. Following a rough August where Diaz pitched a 7.00 ERA and blew two saves, Diaz has bounced back in September as he has yet to allow a hit in five appearances in the month. The 27-year-old has been up and down this season but remains one of the more reliable options for saves as he ranks ninth in MLB in that category.
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Reds' Alexis Diaz: Yields walk-off homer
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Diaz blew a save Sunday against Pittsburgh, allowing two runs on one hit and a hit-by-pitch over one-third of an inning.
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.
