2025 Player Outlook
Diaz converted 28-of-32 save opportunities last season with a 3.99 ERA (4.57 FIP) and 1.30 WHP. His 22.7 percent strikeout rate was a significant drop from past seasons, as was his 25.8% O-Swing%, 11.0% SwStr, and he allowed a career-high 76.3 percent contact rate. His slider is his best weapon, but when he falls behind, he leans on his fastball, which isn’t his swing-and-miss pitch, and he posted the worst first pitch strike rate of his career last year (54.1%). The Reds will head into the season with Diaz as its closer, but the strikeout rate must rebound, and the ERA get closer to 3.00 for him to be a top-10 fantasy closer in 2025.
Player News
Making his season debut after returning from the IL earlier in the day, Alexis Díaz was pulled mid-inning after walking two of the four batters he faced in the sixth Tuesday against the Mariners.
Díaz retired the other two, but the Reds replaced him with Graham Ashcraft to finish the frame. It does go down as a hold for Díaz, who was working with a 6-4 lead. Emilio Pagán finished the game with a perfect ninth, but since it was a four-run lead by then, he didn’t get a save. Pagán is the Reds reliever to have rostered right now.
Alexis Díaz, who was activated from the IL on Tuesday, will not immediately return to the closer’s role in Cincinnati, manager Terry Francona confirmed.
Díaz said no one has discussed his specific role with him. It looks like Emilio Pagán remains the favorite for saves for now.
Reds activated RHP Alexis Díaz from the 15-day injured list.
Alexis Díaz (hamstring) is likely to be activated next week from the injured list.
It’s unclear whether Reds manager Terry Francona will entrust Díaz with save opportunities right out of the gate after the pair seemingly got off to a rocky start during spring training before the latter suffered a hamstring strain. The 28-year-old former closer struggled with his control in five rehab outings, but his closing experience makes him a true wild card moving forward. His return complicates things for Emilio Pagán and Tony Santillan, who have been getting the majority of early-season save chances for Cincinnati.
DFS Last 5
Date | Opponent | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 17th | Mariners | 1.1 |
| Apr 15th | Mariners | 2.3 |
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