Edwin Diaz Shines in Mets’ Victory Over Angels
Edwin Diaz has been on a roll lately, showing that he can handle pressure without much help. In the recent game against the Angels, he recorded four saves, contributing significantly to the Mets’ 6-3 victory at Citi Field.
Interestingly, there were some pitches that were borderline strikes, prompting Angels’ interim manager Ray Montgomery to question the calls after the innings. Diaz, for his part, mentioned he hadn’t seen the replay of the at-bat but seemed unbothered by the umpire’s decisions. “I leave it to the judge,” he said, adding that he might’ve just been lucky to get those calls today. “I think I’m good at getting those,” he noted.
Diaz’s performance aligns well with modern pitching demands. He had thrown just two times in his first 32 outings but has gone three or more times in his last eight appearances, which is quite a shift. Part of this change has to do with how the bullpen is being utilized as the season progresses.
Reflecting on his physical condition, Diaz said, “When you feel better, you feel good.” He expressed readiness to pitch whenever needed, emphasizing that now, with playoff ambitions, every game counts more. On this day, he threw 25 pitches—his second-highest total this season—though one was a bit nerve-wracking.
Diaz faced a challenge in the eighth inning, clipping Travis d’Arnaud shortly after coming in. By the ninth, he threw a hard 96 mph four-seam fastball to Chris Taylor, who got hit but stayed in the game. Diaz didn’t let that phase him and quickly resumed pitching.
Concluding his outing, he noted, “I didn’t mean to hit him.” He felt that adjusting his grip allowed him to get better control, stating it was difficult to grip the ball earlier due to dry conditions. Despite the challenges, he managed to retire the next two batters easily.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza felt confident about pushing Diaz on this occasion since the team had an off day coming up. Overall, Diaz has been impressive, pitching 15⅓ scoreless innings in his last 15 appearances—which is quite the turnaround. Since a rocky start, he’s emerged as a reliable option, giving the Mets a solid closer as they look to strengthen their bullpen ahead of the trading deadline.
