Call to the pen
Fansided

Fantasy baseball: Analyzing the Cincinnati Reds after their win streak comes to a close

By Chris Timoney

GOODYEAR, ARIZONA - MARCH 10: Spencer Steer #7 of the Cincinnati Reds throws to first base in the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks during a spring training game at Goodyear Ballpark on March 10, 2023 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
GOODYEAR, ARIZONA - MARCH 10: Spencer Steer #7 of the Cincinnati Reds throws to first base in the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks during a spring training game at Goodyear Ballpark on March 10, 2023 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Alexis Diaz (43) reacts after closing the game in the ninth inning of a baseball game between the Colorado Rockies and the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, June 19, 2023, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Reds won, 5-4.
Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Alexis Diaz (43) reacts after closing the game in the ninth inning of a baseball game between the Colorado Rockies and the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, June 19, 2023, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Reds won, 5-4. /

Alexis Diaz, Relief Pitcher

Unlike his teammate Spencer Steer, Reds closer Alexis Diaz continued to thrive during Cincinnati’s recent win streak. Over the 12 wins in a row, Diaz recorded seven of his 21 saves this season, giving up only six hits and three earned runs to go along with eight strikeouts and five walks over 7.2 innings pitched. Diaz, the younger brother of Mets pitcher Edwin Diaz, has eight saves and one win this month and is a solid 21-for-21 in saves opportunities on the season with a 1.91 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. As good as Diaz has been this month, his May was absolutely scorching hot: nine saves, .73 ERA, 22 strikeouts to just eight walks over 12.1 innings pitched while holding opponents to a .122 batting average.

Remarkably, I picked Diaz off the waiver wire in my league about a week before Memorial Day and haven’t looked back since. As one of the top closers in the league in just his second season in the majors, there’s no way he’s still sitting on your league’s waiver wire. If I were you, I would start figuring out a trade deal for him. With Pittsburgh seemingly falling apart at the baseball seams and St. Louis a complete afterthought in the NL Central, the Reds are on target to be very competitive for the rest of the season, which should result in many save opportunities to come for Diaz as long as he doesn’t blow out his knee celebrating a win (like his brother, Edwin). Diaz already has two saves and five strikeouts while giving up two walks without any hits against all four of Cincinnati’s pre-All-Star break opponents. In daily fantasy, he’s an automatic play when the Reds are in action.

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