KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Carlos Mendoza wasn’t originally planning to use his All-Star closer for two saves in one day, but the game’s circumstances required some quick decisions. After the Mets successfully challenged a call in the eighth inning, leading to a two-base steal being overturned against Bobby Whitt Jr., Edwin Diaz hit Vinny Pascantino to wrap up the inning.
After this, Mendoza turned to Diaz to see if he was available for the ninth. “Given the situation with the steal and considering he was efficient on the mound, plus the All-Star break ahead, I thought it was the right time,” Mendoza explained after the Mets secured a 3-1 victory over the Royals. “I asked him after that inning if he was good to go, and there wasn’t any hesitation on my part.”
Diaz did indeed rise to the occasion, nailing down his 19th save out of 20 chances. Mendoza brought him in for the eighth, recognizing the importance of facing the Royals’ top hitters. “That felt like a pivotal moment in the game, and I wanted our best guy in there,” he remarked.
Prior to that, Mendoza had already relied on Reed Garrett and Chris Devenski. Garrett managed to navigate a tricky situation, allowing a run with three walks but no outs, before Devenski stepped in and delivered a scoreless inning.
With those two innings under his belt, Diaz’s ERA dropped to 1.66. It’s worth noting that he’s been elite over the last couple of months after starting the season somewhat shaky. “I wasn’t out of the gate the best, but I figured out how to improve my pitching and keep the ball working,” Diaz shared. “I feel good about how the first half has gone.”
Now heading to the All-Star Game for the second time—having previously been selected in 2022—he noted that refining his mechanics played a big role in his turnaround. “I’ve put in a lot of work with my pitching coaches. Sticking to my routine is key, and I believe I’m getting better because of their constant support,” Diaz added.
