Fastball

New York Mets Pitcher Joined Rare History in NLDS-Clinching Game

Edwin Diaz helped stamp the Mets' trip to the NLCS with this history-making pitch.

Brady Farkas

New York Mets pitcher Edwin Diaz (39) celebrates the final out in the 9th inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in game four of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Citi Field on Oct 9.
New York Mets pitcher Edwin Diaz (39) celebrates the final out in the 9th inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in game four of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Citi Field on Oct 9. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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On Wednesday, the New York Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies by a score of 4-1. That win gave the Mets a 3-1 series win in the National League Division Series. Therefore, it stamped the Mets trip to the National League Championship Series, where they will meet either the San Diego Padres or the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In the win, Mets closer Edwin Diaz joined a rare group in baseball history. Per Sarah Langs of MLB.com on social media:

fastest strikeout pitches to clinch a postseason round, pitch-tracking era (2008):

2017 ALWCG Aroldis Chapman: 103.7 mph
2016 NLDS G4 Chapman: 101.8 mph
2023 ALWCS G2 Jhoan Duran: 101.3 mph
2009 NLDS G3 Jonathan Broxton: 101.3 mph
2024 NLDS G4 Edwin Díaz: 101.1 mph

Diaz is known for his premium velocity and wipeout slider, though he hasn't been at his best in the postseason thus far. Through three appearances this year, he has an 8.10 ERA. He's still struck out seven batters in 3.1 innings.

His uneven playoff performance also mimics his uneven regular season for the Mets, where he went 6-4 with a 3.52 ERA. He appeared in 54 games, though he lost his closer's job for a spell and finished with just 20 saves.

An eight-year veteran, Diaz has played with the Seattle Mariners and Mets. He's a multi-time All-Star who recorded 57 saves back in the 2018 season with Seattle.

The National League Championship Series is set to begin on Sunday night in either San Diego or Los Angeles. Those two teams are playing a Game 5 on Friday night.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

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