HOUSTON -- The Mariners' bullpen has taken on a new look with some midseason adjustments, none bigger than the arrival of hard-throwing rookie right-hander Edwin Diaz.
The 22-year-old has struck out 29 batters in 15 1/3 innings since being called up a month ago, and his last 10 outs have come via the strikeout, equaling a club record set by Hall of Famer Randy Johnson in 1997.
While manager Scott Servais is being careful how much he uses the youngster, given that he only converted to the bullpen two months ago and never pitched above the Double-A level until his June 6 debut, the skipper knows what a difference Diaz has made already.