Isan Diaz opted out, then opted back in. Four games after his return, his season’s over
Isan Diaz’s time on the Miami Marlins’ active roster in 2020 lasted all of seven games.
Diaz, who the Marlins have pegged as their hopeful second baseman of the future, was placed on the 60-day injured list prior to the Marlins’ series opener against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday with a left groin strain. The injury happened in Diaz’s fourth game since being reinstated Thursday. He opted out of the season on Aug. 1 at the tail end of the Marlins’ COVID-19 outbreak before having a change of heart as the calendar turned to September.
Utility infielder Sean Rodriguez, one of the 18 players who tested positive for COVID-19, was activated from the IL to take Diaz’s spot.
“Isan’s disappointed,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “Disappointed with what happened. I think the one thing about Sean is he’s been with us all spring. He’s part of this culture now and knows exactly what we’re doing and what’s going on. He just kind of seamlessly fits right back in. That’s pretty smooth from that standpoint, but definitely disappointing for Isan.”
Diaz finishes the season with a .182 batting average (four hits in 22 at-bats), one RBI and seven strikeouts. For his big-league career, since making his debut in August 2019, Diaz has a .177 average, five home runs and 24 RBI in 201 at-bats.
The Marlins were hoping the 2020 would serve as a year for Diaz to cement himself as their primary second baseman. Instead, he will almost assuredly have to compete with Jazz Chisholm for the spot in 2021. Chisholm, the fourth-ranked prospect in the Marlins’ system, had been splitting time at second base in September after Jonathan Villar was traded. First, it was with Jon Berti, who is on the IL with a right middle finger laceration. Then, it was with Diaz once he returned to the club.
Chisholm will get two weeks and a likely playoff run to show he can hold down the position long-term.
Playoff dates unveiled
The MLB playoffs are right around the corner, and fans now have dates to circle on their calendar.
The best-of-3 wild card round begins on Sept. 29 for the American League and Sept. 30 for the National League. All 16 teams who reach the playoffs will participate in the opening round, with the top four seeds in each league (the three division winners and the division runner-up with the best record) hosting the games at their home ballparks.
From there, games move to hubs. The best-of-5 Divisional Series begin on Oct. 5 for the AL and Oct. 6 for the National League. The American League will play games at San Diego’s Petco Park and Los Angeles’ Dodgers Stadium, while the NL plays at Arlington’s Globe Life Park and Houston’s Minute Maid Park.
The best-of-7 Championship Series begin on Oct. 11 for the AL at Petco Park and Oct. 12 for the NL at Globe Life Park.
The World Series stars Oct. 20 at Globe Life Park.
There are no off days during the Wild Card, Divisional Series and Championship Series rounds since there is no travel during the series. This could provide an advantage to teams with quality starting pitching depth, like the Marlins, because a full five-man rotation could be needed unless teams use starters on short rest.
The World Series will have its regularly scheduled off days after Game 2 and Game 5 (if necessary).
Betting odds
According to the betting website betonline.ag, the Marlins have 40-to-1 odds to win the World Series and 20-to-1 odds to win the National League pennant. The website had the Marlins pegged at 125-to-1 odds to win the NL at the start of the season.
In terms of individual awards, the site has Sixto Sanchez at 33-to-1 odds to win the NL Cy Young Award (the Chicago Cubs’ Yu Darvish is the favorite at 11-to-10 odds) and 3-to-2 odds to win the NL Rookie of the Year (behind only the San Diego Padres’ Jake Crowenworth, at 10-to-11 odds).
.JPG)