ARLINGTON, Texas — Edwin Diaz’s “confidence” is back.
Manager Carlos Mendoza praised his closer, who has pitched in three games since coming off the disabled list before Wednesday’s game, and said Diaz’s confidence and belief in his delivery are the biggest reasons for the right-hander’s resurgence.
“It was a tough time for him,” Mendoza said before the Mets’ 5-3 loss to the Rangers at Globe Life Field. “It wasn’t easy for him at times. I’m sure he felt that. He ended up missing a whole year.”
Diaz has been rehabbing from surgery last season to repair a torn patellar tendon in his right knee and pitched in May with an 8.68 ERA and four missed saves.
Diaz has not allowed a run in three starts since returning from a right shoulder injury and did not pitch in Wednesday’s loss but did convert both of his save opportunities.
“He continues to attack and continues to pitch,” Mendoza said.
According to Mendoza, pitcher Kodai Senga will throw some bullpen balls and then move on to batting practice against batters on Sunday or Monday.
The right-hander had faced hitters last month before his rehabilitation from a tight right shoulder slowed him down.
After facing hitters, Senga still has a minor league rehab assignment ahead of him and, if healthy, remains a possibility for a spot in the starting rotation in the second half of the season.
Facing Texas left-hander Andrew Heaney, Jose Iglesias (0-for-2) started at second base, while Jeff McNeil (0-for-1) was on the bench.
Iglesias had entered the game the night before as a pinch hitter, taking the field in the ninth inning and contributing to a 6-4-3 double play in a game down by one run.
Iglesias received praise for persevering and completing a double play with Davis Wenzel sliding hard into the base.
Brandon Nimmo embraced Iglesias after the play.
“That speaks to what’s been going on here lately,” Mendoza said, “how much they care for each other and how much they want that.”
The Mets’ seven-game winning streak tied the franchise’s longest streak in five years.
The Mets won eight straight games in August 2019.
The Mets’ last seven-game winning streak came in 2022.
