DENVER -- Dodgers manager Dave Roberts knew he didn’t like what he saw from closer Edwin Díaz in Sunday’s 9-6 loss to the Rockies, but he didn’t realize the full extent of what was wrong with the picture until Díaz underwent an MRI Monday.
“We all saw the stuff last night, and it sent up red flags,” Roberts said before Monday’s final game of the four-game set at Coors Field. “After the game, he had a conversation with our training staff and felt that he had some elbow discomfort. Looking at what was going on last night, we just wanted to be proactive and felt that it was smart to get an MRI, get imaging, which we did do. It showed loose bodies. It happens with players, and it just kind of came to a head last night. We felt, get the surgery scheduled and expect a second-half return."
Díaz is scheduled for surgery at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic on Wednesday to remove the loose bodies from his elbow. Díaz was placed on the injured list and Roberts was reluctant to speculate on a timetable for his return at this point. In a corresponding move, the club recalled left-handed pitcher Jake Eder from Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Roberts confirmed that Díaz had not previously reported any discomfort in his elbow -- and given the manager’s own personal experience with loose bodies, Roberts found that entirely plausible.
"I had that same surgery at the end of my career,” Roberts explained. “Loose bodies are asymptomatic until they're not, so I can relate to what he was going through. It just happened last night, and it's unfortunate.”
Díaz, 32, allowed three runs without recording an out on Sunday against the Rockies. On the season, he is 1-0 with a 10.50 ERA in seven games. The 10-year veteran is 29-36 in his career with a 2.91 ERA in 527 games. The three-time All-Star has 257 saves in 300 opportunities with 849 strikeouts.
Díaz's four-seam fastball has averaged from 97.2 to 99.1 mph over the last four seasons, but he was only averaging 95.7 mph so far this season, and he was as low as 92.8 mph on Sunday at Coors Field. He has only thrown six slower fastballs in his career.
The imaging did not reveal any other issues, such as ligament damage.
"That's the first time that he felt anything or there was any signs of it,” Roberts emphasized. “As soon as we found out, we tried to do something about it and get imaging. It was telling in giving us good information. It is good to have some validation on why the velocity was down.”
Díaz’s departure calls for a dramatic change at the back of the Dodgers' bullpen, with no obvious heir apparent waiting in the wings.
“I feel comfortable with a handful of guys that I feel that can close out games for us,” Roberts said. “Right now, I'm not going to name a closer.”
Regardless of whether or not he assigns someone to the role, Roberts will have to adjust his management of the ‘pen.
“It changes it in a big way,” he said of the effect of Díaz’s IL status on the rest of the relievers. “Being able to deploy guys in their right lanes or pockets has been helpful. Alex [Vesia] has been throwing the baseball really well. Tanner [Scott] has been throwing the baseball really well. And outside of last night, Blake [Treinen] was throwing the baseball really well, but it does not allow us to work from the back end, which is certainly a luxury.”
Reinforcements will be coming soon, with right-handers Brock Stewart expected to return from the IL in mid-May and Brusdar Graterol expected at a later date still to be determined.
Eder, 27, was acquired from the Nationals on April 1 for cash considerations. He has appeared in three games for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season, pitching 5 1/3 innings and allowing two runs. He pitched for the Los Angeles Angels in 2025, making eight appearances, going 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in 18 1/3 innings. He made his Major League debut on Sept. 17, 2024 as a member of the Chicago White Sox, allowing one run in two innings. The former Vanderbilt Commodore was drafted in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft by the Miami Marlins and has pitched in 72 Minor League games, going 10-29 with a 5.35 ERA and 356 strikeouts in 312 2/3 innings.
“I honestly don't know much about him,” Roberts said of his new reliever. “He's a lefty who was a former starter. Velocity, since we got him, has ticked up two, three miles an hour, so to have him as coverage will certainly be helpful.”