The Cincinnati Reds took the expected step following Wednesday’s disastrous ninth inning, sending Alexis Díaz down to the minors before Thursday’s series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals. In a corresponding move, they activated right-hander Luis Mey.
Díaz gave up five runs in the ninth, including three consecutive home runs, turning a one-run game into a six-run blowout. The Reds dropped the first game of the day-night doubleheader, 6-0.
Díaz, who missed spring training time with a hamstring injury, has pitched in six games this season. After Wednesday’s collapse, his ERA ballooned to 12.00, with only three strikeouts over six innings. This is a far cry from the pitcher who was an All-Star in 2023.
Reds option Alexis Diaz to Triple-A in favor of unproven fireballer Luis Mey
Alexis Díaz is heading back to Triple-A Louisville, a familiar stop after making multiple rehab outings there earlier this season. He needed extra time to get up to speed for 2025 and appeared in five games with the Bats before coming off the injured list in mid-April.
While Díaz showed some strikeout potential in those outings—recording eight Ks over five innings—his control remained a serious concern, walking four batters. The former All-Star closer has now struggled with command issues for over a year and a half. In 2024, his strikeout rate fell to 22.7%, while his walk rate stayed high at 12.8%. That kind of inconsistency doesn’t hold up in the majors, and Díaz is now facing the consequences.
The Reds officially recalled right-hander Luis Mey from Triple-A and optioned Díaz following the April 30 game.
Mey brings a similar risk-reward profile. He’s known for a high-octane fastball that can hit 100 mph, but like Díaz, struggles with command. Still, his raw stuff often makes up for the lack of polish.
Though Mey worked in late-inning roles with the Bats, don’t expect him to take on that responsibility in Cincinnati. Manager Terry Francona appears set with a late-game bullpen trio of Graham Ashcraft, Tony Santillan, and Emilio Pagán, so Mey will likely be eased into a lower-leverage role for now.
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