Mariners’ closer Edwin Diaz named American League reliever of the month for June

By Ryan Divish The Seattle Times • July 4, 2018 1:30 am
Seattle Mariners pitcher Edwin Diaz strikes out the Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani to close out a 4-1 Mariners victory on Tuesday. (Dean Rutz/Seattle Times/TNS)
Seattle Mariners pitcher Edwin Diaz strikes out the Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani to close out a 4-1 Mariners victory on Tuesday. (Dean Rutz/Seattle Times/TNS)

Ryan Divish

The Seattle Times

For the second time this season, Mariners closer Edwin Diaz was honored for his stellar relief work out of the bullpen. On Monday, Major League Baseball announced that Diaz was named the Hartford Presents’ American League Reliever of the Month for June.

Diaz also took home the honors in April. It’s the third time he’s won the award in his career, also picking up the honors last season for his efforts in July.

The fire-balling right-hander was dominant in June, converting 12-of-13 save opportunities while posting a 1.88 ERA (three earned runs, 14 1/3 innings pitched) in 14 relief appearances in June. Two of the three runs allowed came in a non-save appearance in Boston when he hadn’t pitched in six days. Diaz struck out 20 batters and walked only two, while posting a 0.98 WHIP (two walks, 12 hits, 14 1/3 innings pitched) and averaging 12.56 strikeouts-per-nine-innings pitched. Díaz led all American League relievers in saves during the month of June. The Mariners went 14-0 in his 14 outings/

Diaz also made club history in the month of June, notching his 30th save, which surpassed Kaz Sasaki’s record of 29 saves before the All-Star break set in 2001. He was the 13th pitcher in MLB history to reach the 30-save plateau before the All-Star Break. That accomplishment has only happened 16 times since saves became an official statistic in 1969. Diaz joins two other pitchers to record 30 saves before the end of June — Danny Graves of the Reds in 2004 (30) and Francisco Rodriguez of the Angels in 2008 (32). He is just the second pitcher in MLB history to total 30 saves and 70 strikeouts prior to the All-Star Break, joining Eric Gagne of the Dodgers in 2003 (31 SV, 76 K).

Diaz leads all of baseball with 32 saves, having converted 32 of 35 opportunities to go with a 2.45 ERA (12 eearned runs, 44 innings pitched), 71 strikeouts, 13 walks in 44 appearances. He’s averaging 14.52 strikeouts per nine innings, which is third best in the American League. Opponents are batting just .164 (25 for 152) against him. The Mariners are 40-0 when he enters the game with a lead this season, including 22-0 when he enters with a one-run lead. Of those 32 saves, 20 have come in one-run wins — the most in baseball.