Reds fans are hopeful that Alexis Diaz can reach the same heights as his brother

Edwin Diaz is the best closer in baseball. Not only that, his entrance from the bullpen is freakin' amazing! Edwin's younger brother Alexis has been the Cincinnati Reds best reliever in 2022. Will Diaz eventually ascend to the same level as his older brother?

The Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets are ready to engage in a three-game series at Citi Field in Flushing this week. The last time the two teams met earlier this season, Alexis Diaz was on the Injured List. At least the two brothers were able to exchange lineup cards on the field prior to one of the games.

This time, however, both Diaz brothers are healthy. You have to assume that there'll be a friendly competition between the two during the upcoming series. Will we see both Diaz brothers appear in the same game? The more important question for Reds fans is whether or not Alexis Diaz can actually reach the same heights as his brother Edwin.

Can Reds RHP Alexis Diaz reach the same heights as his brother Edwin Diaz?

Alexis Diaz has a long way to go if he hopes to catcher his older brother. But some of their statistics are right in line with one another. Both has pitched north of 40 innings this season and have a sub-2.00 ERA.

According to FanGraphs, Alexis Diaz has an impressive 30.3% strikeout-rate. But Edwin Diaz has an out-of-this-world strikeout-rate of 52.1%. Couple that with a 7.1% walk-rate and 48.5% ground ball-rate and it's easy to see why the older Diaz is the best closer in baseball this season.

Hopping over the Baseball Savant, you'll see some similarities in the brother's advanced metrics as well. Both Alexis and Edwin Diaz register a whiff-rate that is among the 97th percentile or higher. Both pitchers are also in the 90th percentile or higher in terms of strikeout-rate, with Edwin ranking as the best in the game.

But Edwin Diaz doesn't generate near as much spin on his fastball as his younger brother. Alexis Diaz has the fastest spin-rate among all pitchers in the game. However, when it comes to fastball velocity, Edwin Diaz is in the 99th percentile while Alexis Diaz is sitting a little lower.

Does Alexis Diaz have what it takes to match his brother's production? Seeing as how it really until 2021 for Edwin Diaz to really insert himself into the conversation as the best closer in baseball, the answer should be a resounding, yes.

In Edwin Diaz's first season in New York, the right-hander owed a 5.59 ERA, blew seven saves, and had a 74 ERA+. This was just a year after coming over from Seattle after earning a trip to the All-Star Game and finishing eighth in the AL Cy Young race in 2018.

Alexis Diaz is the best reliever the Cincinnati Reds have and he's just a rookie. He'll be in the miix to be the team's closer next season and is already facing the best of the opposing team's lineup when he's called upon by David Bell. This week in Queens should be fun to watch.