Diaz dazzling Majors with dizzying K rate

CHICAGO — While Aroldis Chapman of the Cubs understandably draws considerable attention for his 100 mph-plus fastballs, Mariners rookie reliever Edwin Diaz is beginning to draw notice as well as he continues to crank up incredible strikeout numbers in his first two months in the Majors.

The 22-year-old right-hander is averaging nearly two strikeouts every inning as his 17.49 strikeouts per nine is the highest among any pitcher in the Majors with at least 20 innings of work. Diaz has 46 strikeouts and seven walks in 23 2/3 innings and has been even better of late, with 35 punchouts and three walks in his last 16 frames.

That strikeout ability is a weapon for Mariners manager Scott Servais, who has gradually moved Diaz into the team’s eighth-inning setup role as he’s gained experience.

“It doesn’t get any bigger,” Servais said of the punchout potential. “Hitters know it. Now it’s got to the point he’s actually got some track record. So they look at the numbers and the strikeouts and, ‘What does this guy have?’ Here it is. You get their attention. But still, being able to do it is about executing. He’s got great stuff — a lively fastball and a really good slider.”

Diaz consistently throws his fastball in the upper 90s and touches 100 mph at times, while the development …

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