Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz has decided not to appeal his 10-game suspension for using foreign substances. He will begin serving the suspension on Tuesday during the Mets’ game against the Yankees at Citi Field and will be eligible to return on July 6 for the Mets’ game against the Pirates in Pittsburgh.
On Sunday, Diaz was checked for foreign substances while pitching the ninth inning with a 5-2 lead. Despite his insistence that he was not using any illegal substances, he was removed from the game after it was deemed that he had too much stickiness on his hands and equipment. According to SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino, MLB’s rules are clear on the detection of sticky substances, with it being a yes or no determination rather than a measure of stickiness.
If he chooses not to appeal, Diaz will miss two games against the Yankees in the Subway Series, as well as the subsequent series against the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals.
