TORONTO Edwin Diazs season was headed south and taking the Mets with him after he got beat in a second straight appearance last month in Arizona. The questions from earlier this season when Diaz struggled began to resurface: Had he lost his confidence? Was he physically sound? Since that Corbin Carroll grand slam against Diaz on Aug. 28, which sent the Mets to a crushing defeat only three days after the Padres Jackson Merrill beat him with a home run in the ninth inning the closer was again on as play began Tuesday. Mets pitcher Edwin Diaz reacts during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds. AP Diaz entered with seven straight appearances in which he hadnt surrendered an earned run, with only two hits and one walk allowed over seven innings during that stretch. The positive signs include a four-seam fastball that has shown more life recently, including against the Reds. Explore More He topped out at 99 mph on Monday in working a scorele s ninth against the Blue Jays for his 17th save. After his consecutive hiccups last month, Diaz largely backed away from his slider the pitch on which both homers were hit but its been more incorporated into his arsenal lately. De'Anthony Melton Jersey I just have to keep mixing both pitches, Diaz said before the Mets faced the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. They are both really good. I just have to trust myself. I think my slider percentage was a little high this year. I throw 98-100 [mph] so I have to keep trusting my fastball. Diaz threw eight fastballs and four sliders in his appearance Monday. Mets relief pitcher Edwin Diaz throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter in the ninth inning. AP Even with his reduction in throwing the slider over the last two weeks, he still has utilized the pitch 50.6 percent of the time this season. I think it just depends on the matchup and who we are playing, pitching coach Jeremy Hefner said. [The slider] is a pitch they can hit hard. Its matchup dependent and whatever the matchup calls for is what well throw. Monday night Diaz received a brief scare when Leo Jimenez jumped on a 98-mph fastball and hit a shot to deep right field that appeared to have a chance to beat the Mets. The ball was caught by Starling Marte for the final out. Off the bat it looked pretty good, but at the same time I didnt think he hit it that hard, Diaz said. It looked like he got it off the end of the bat a little bit and thats why it stayed in the yard because I think if he hit it better that ball was a homer. In May, Diaz was temporarily removed from the closer role during a stretch in which he pitched to an 8.68 ERA and blew four saves. Diaz attributed his troubles to a lack of confidence. Edwin Diaz #39 of the New York Mets, pitching in the 9th inning against the Reds. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Diazs season has also included a stint on the injured list and . In late July and early August he also had a three-week stretch in which he appeared in only four games. That might have helped him right now to have a little bit extra, Hefner said. I think he feels good and he sniffs the finish line and is just emptying the tank in a lot of ways. Delivering insights on all things Amazins Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! The Mets succe s over the final 2 weeks will in part be predicated upon their ability to get Diaz the ball in save situations and the right-hander continuing to convert. The Mets began the day one game ahead of Atlanta for the National Leagues third wild card. The Mets fell four games behind Atlanta for that spot the night Diaz allowed the grand slam to Carroll in Arizona. I want to get the ball, Diaz said. Whenever they give it to me I will do my job because we can do something special here. Brandon Clarke Jersey