This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon¡¯s Reds Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. -- Reds closer Alexis Díaz told fans at Sunday's Reds Caravan stop that he made a preseason wager with his brother, Mets closer Edwin Díaz, about who would have the most saves in 2024. The loser had to buy dinner for the entire family.

Alexis D¨ªaz was the winner with 28 saves in 32 opportunities to Edwin's 20 out of 27. Beyond the saves, however, Alexis endured some rough spots in his game. The saves were frequently harder to come by than in his All-Star 2023 season. His strikeout rate decreased from 11.5 K's per nine innings in 2023 to 8.8 in ¡®24 as he often struggled with command. His ERA jumped from 3.07 in '23 to 3.99 in ¡®24 over 60 appearances and 56 1/3 innings.

"If you can¡¯t get ahead in the count with hitters [you're unable] to punch them out easily," D¨ªaz said via translator Jorge Merlos. "It¡¯s harder to work behind in the count and you¡¯re just trying to find the zone. I just wasn¡¯t attacking the zone enough like I did in the previous two years. This offseason, I¡¯ve been working on that and finding that I¡¯m the type of guy able to attack and get ahead.¡±

D¨ªaz, 28, avoided arbitration earlier this month by agreeing to a one-year, $4.5 million contract. Over his first 23 games in the last season's first two months, he had a 5.91 ERA with three losses and two blown saves.

The slide included a May 13 walk-off defeat at Arizona, when D¨ªaz hit the leadoff batter and walked two others to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning. Kevin Newman hit a two-run single to send the Reds to their 11th loss in 12 games. D¨ªaz also was scored against in three consecutive outings for the first time in his career.

¡°I think it was my mechanics," D¨ªaz said. "It just wasn¡¯t put together in the first half of the season. Little by little, I kept working on it and kept working on it."

From May 21-Aug. 13, D¨ªaz converted 17 straight saves, the second-longest streak of his career. In the final month of the season, he pitched nine scoreless innings over his last nine games to head into the offseason.

¡°Some of that was the velocity early in the season, some of it was the command. Through the course of the year, I thought he did a nice job," Reds pitching coach Derek Johnson said. "His throwing program got better. We kind of honed in on what we felt was an issue, which was his arm slot would kind of float. It was really just continuing to do the same things we talked about since he¡¯s been in the league.

"It¡¯s always, always about strikes overall. We¡¯re hammering that with him and strikes vs. left-handed hitters.¡±

D¨ªaz has been training at home in Puerto Rico with his brother and a coach, former Reds pitcher Hector Mercado, and the former eight-time All-Star second baseman, Robinson Cano.

¡°I started throwing or loosening up my arm at the end of October," D¨ªaz said. "I feel like since then, I¡¯ve been able to work on my throwing and get my arm loose and ready for Spring Training. I think just my physique and how I¡¯ve been able to work as well has been much better. I feel much more confident coming into Spring Training.¡±

Over three seasons with Cincinnati, D¨ªaz has a 2.93 ERA and 75 saves in 190 games. He became the team's full-time closer in 2023 and went to the All-Star Game that season.

Johnson believed D¨ªaz was positioned to build off his second-half improvements from last season.

¡°He¡¯s improved decently throughout the two or three years he¡¯s been in the league," Johnson said. "I think if he can make another jump, he puts himself in a way easier spot to get the save and get the job done on maybe less pitches or maybe not make it quite as entertaining.¡±