Edwin Diaz couldn’t have gotten off to a better start to the season post-injury.
The closer, who made his 100th career save with the Mets for the second time in recent days, allowed just one earned run in seven innings.
He looked a lot like the team’s leading reliever before missing all of last year with a knee injury.
“I feel good, dude. I feel great. My arm feels great,” Diaz said after making his fourth save of the season in a 6-3 come-from-behind win over the Pirates at Citi Field. Ta. “I feel great because I got the job done and bounced back really well.”
Diaz has pitched for the second consecutive day and is reported to be OK.
He had 10 strikeouts in seven innings and ended the game with a one-out walk and a fly ball to O’Neal Crews.
The only thing Diaz would like to improve on is his speed.
His fastball drops at a few miles per hour.
On Monday, it reached a top speed of 98 mph.
Monday Pirates. Jason Suzens of the New York Post
His fastball averages 96.7 mph, down from 99.1 mph in 2022.
“Everything was going pretty well, except for me. [velocity]. It’s been going up and down a little bit,” Crozer said. “I was depressed a year ago, so I’m going to pick it up.” [velocity]. To make your arm stronger, you have to keep throwing. …I was 96 or 97 years old today, so I think I’ll try harder next time. ”
Last year was a lost season for him.
He suffered a torn patellar tendon during the World Baseball Classic celebration.
So far this year, he’s made up for lost time and earned a five-year, $102 million contract with the Mets in November 2022.
“Every time they give me the ball, they expect a good result from me and I expect the same and I’m doing it now,” he said.
