Servais has no plans to use Diaz early in games

ANAHEIM — As dominant as Edwin Diaz has been in his first 10 weeks in the Majors, Mariners manager Scott Servais says he won’t give in to the temptation to use the 22-year-old rookie in critical high-leverage situations earlier in the game now that he’s settled into the closer’s role for Seattle.

The live-armed right-hander has given up just two hits and one run with one walk and 11 strikeouts in eight innings since taking over the closing job on Aug. 2, going seven-for-seven in save opportunities while continuing to overpower hitters with his 100-mph heat and quality slider.

Servais knows he has a powerful weapon at his disposal with the young Puerto Rican and that fans will raise the question of why not bring him in earlier if a game is on the line in the middle innings.

“I’m not going to say it hasn’t popped into my head,” Servais acknowledged. “But you have to look where we are in the season. We sit here on Aug. 16-17, it’s a little different than if it was Sept. 20. But for our team right now, for what he’s brought to our club, everybody likes to see him run out there in the ninth inning.

“It’s a very secure feeling for myself, for the guys on the field that have been busting it all game and feel good about it and even the guys that are pitching in the bullpen. That’s why they’re accepting of …

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