LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers signed Edwin Díaz last offseason with every intention of him being their closer, for 2026 and beyond. As he returns from his second injured list stint this season, he finds himself needing to fight for a role in L.A.’s postseason bullpen.
Prior to Friday’s 8-2 win over the Giants at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers activated Díaz from the 15-day IL, where he’d landed on Aug. 18 with neck inflammation. Right-hander Landon Knack was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City as the corresponding move.
Díaz immediately got an opportunity, working a scoreless ninth inning vs. San Francisco, albeit with a six-run cushion thanks to the Dodgers’ four-homer bottom of the eighth. He induced a popout and got a strikeout on a foul tip before allowing a two-out single. But he avoided any damage, ending the game by getting Brett Harris to offer at a nasty slider. Díaz’s four-seamer averaged 97.6 mph (up 1.3 mph from his season average), maxing out at 98.7 mph.
Without that five-run frame, Díaz would not have been used to close things out, manager Dave Roberts said. But he liked what he saw from the right-hander.
“The fastball had that life,” said Roberts. “Ninety-six [mph] is a lot different than 99. And it just seemed like his delivery was through the catcher, and it had that life to the fastball. And then the slider -- once you have that fastball, the slider is pretty lethal.”
It’s been a tumultuous year for Díaz, who on Dec. 12 signed a three-year, $69 million contract with the two-time reigning World Series champs. Needless to say, things have not gone as expected for the three-time All-Star. Across his first seven appearances, he allowed seven earned runs in six innings with 10 strikeouts and five walks, after which he landed on the IL with loose bodies in his right elbow that necessitated surgery.
Upon his return on July 29, Díaz slotted back into the closer role, this time recording three blown saves over nine games and pitching to a 12.91 ERA, with nine strikeouts, five walks and two hit batters in 7 2/3 innings pitched.
Díaz’s most recent rehab assignment didn’t do much to inspire confidence. Although the results were less important than how he came out feeling, he struggled with his command, issuing seven walks and hitting a batter in 4 1/3 innings across five appearances with Oklahoma City while recording very few swings and misses.
So what does Díaz have to do to prove he deserves to be part of L.A.’s postseason plans?
“I think just pitch well,” said Roberts. “For me, it's regardless of the role. I think we just want to see him throw the baseball the way he's capable of. And you're talking about nine games [remaining in the regular season], so you're talking three or four outings to evaluate, and that should be adequate.”
At this point, that role will not be “closer.” Expect to see Díaz used in lower-leverage spots, like he was on Friday. With their 13th National League West title in the last 14 seasons now clinched -- even as they vie for a first-round bye -- the Dodgers have the luxury of being able to use their remaining regular-season slate to let a handful of guys essentially try out for October roster spots.
Díaz might just be the headliner of that group, as the three-time Reliever of the Year could prove to be an X-factor out of L.A.’s ’pen as it seeks a three-peat -- so long as he shows he’s a viable option. And after throwing just 17 pitches on Friday, he could get another chance as soon as Saturday night.
“He'll be available tomorrow,” said Roberts.