New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz endured a rough spring training in-game debut during a 5-1 loss to the Houston Astros on Thursday night, as he recorded just a single out and surrendered two earned runs with a walk before he was pulled.
Both Diaz and Mets manager Carlos Mendoza insisted after the game that they’re not worried about where the 30-year-old is in his preparations for the upcoming season.
“I think I was a little excited,” Diaz said, as shared by Phillip Martinez of SNY. “That’s how I feel. I wasn’t able to stay on top of the ball, so I was side to side and going toward the third base side. That’s my takeaway. Was just missing with my fastball.”
Diaz mentioned following a couple of shaky outings in August 2024 that he felt his slider was “floating in the sun” because he was “driving to third base instead of home plate.” On Thursday night, the 2022 Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year Award winner tossed just 10 strikes on his 19 pitches.
Mendoza noted that Diaz was simply “off” and “missing wild” versus Houston. The skipper also seemed relieved that Diaz “felt good physically” regardless of his failure to notch three outs.
A closer having a poor showing during a spring training contest in the first full week of March usually wouldn’t raise eyebrows. After all, relief pitchers use this time of year to ramp up for meaningful appearances as they try to avoid injuries.
However, Diaz acknowledged last spring after he blew multiple saves when his velocity was down that he was dealing with confidence issues at that time. That didn’t seem to be an issue for the veteran as of Thursday evening.
“I know how to control my emotions,” Diaz said. “I think it was more mechanics. In my live [batting practice session], I was throwing the ball really good. I was really confident it would be a good outing. I did make a couple of mistakes, cutting my fastball. Just have to go out tomorrow, work the next day and when I come back, do it in a game.”
Diaz is next scheduled to face opposing batters in Sunday’s matchup versus the Washington Nationals. Needless to say, he’d benefit from giving the Mets a one-two-three inning that afternoon.
