ARLINGTON, Texas — Edwin Diaz’s “conviction” has returned.
In assessing his closer’s success in three appearances off the injured list before Wednesday’s game, manager Carlos Mendoza said Diaz’s conviction and confidence in his pitches is probably the biggest reason for the right-hander’s turnaround.
“He went through a lot,” Mendoza said before the Mets’ 5-3 loss to the Rangers at Globe Life Field. “You go through a stretch where it wasn’t easy for him. I am pretty sure he was feeling it. At the end of the day the guy missed a whole year.”
Diaz, who spent last season rehabbing from surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his right knee, pitched to an 8.68 ERA in May with four blown saves.
In his three appearances since returning from a right shoulder impingement, Diaz — who didn’t pitch in Wednesday’s loss — hadn’t allowed a run and converted both of his save opportunities.
“He is staying on the attack and continuing to make pitches,” Mendoza said.
Kodai Senga threw a bullpen session and is set to progress to facing hitters in a live batting practice session on Sunday or Monday, according to Mendoza.
The right-hander had gotten as far as facing hitters last month before regressing in his rehab from a right shoulder strain.
After he faces hitters, Senga still will have a minor league rehab assignment ahead of him, leaving him as a second-half possibility for the rotation if healthy.
Jose Iglesias (0-for-2) started at second base, with Jeff McNeil (0-for-1) on the bench, against Texas left-hander Andrew Heaney.
A night earlier Iglesias entered the game as a pinch hitter and was on the field in the ninth to help turn a 6-4-3 double play in a one-run game.
Iglesias earned praised for hanging in to complete the double play with Davis Wendzel sliding hard into the bag.
Brandon Nimmo hugged Iglesias after the play.
“It says a lot about what is going on here as of late,” Mendoza said. “How much they care for each other and how much they want it.”
The Mets’ seven-game winning streak matched the club’s longest in five years.
The Mets won eight straight games in August 2019.
The Mets’ previous seven-game winning streak occurred in 2022.