CINCINNATI -- Edwin Díaz's shaky rehab stint could be nearing its conclusion.
Díaz pitched a scoreless inning in his fifth rehab outing with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday, a step forward after he allowed five earned runs in two-thirds of an inning in his previous appearance on Sunday.
The first season of Díaz's three-year, $69 million contract with the Dodgers has been filled with adversity. Two IL stints -- first due to surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow in April, and currently neck inflammation that sidelined him in August -- have kept him off the big league mound for most of the season. When he has been healthy, he hasn't performed, recording an 11.85 ERA with four blown saves in 11 opportunities.
The Dodgers initially hoped that Díaz's rehab assignment would be brief, but they needed to see more from him before activating him from the IL. In five appearances with Oklahoma City, Díaz has allowed six runs in 4 1/3 innings (12.46 ERA). His command issues have continued, as he has more walks (seven) than strikeouts (four).
As it was, Díaz was already set to be used in lower leverage upon returning from the IL. But he may also have to earn his spot in the postseason bullpen, as manager Dave Roberts acknowledged Monday that he could be left off the roster.
"We have to go with our best pitchers, as far as performance, talent, all that stuff," Roberts said. "My bet is that he will be [on the postseason roster]. But again, there's got to be some kind of evidence or something for us to bet on. So my bet is yes, but we’ve still got to see something."
Here's everything to know about Díaz's latest rehab outing:
How did he perform?
Díaz threw 15 pitches (11 strikes) to complete a scoreless ninth inning, working around a two-out double that came off the bat of fellow rehabber Miguel Andujar at 104.3 mph. He did not induce a whiff on the eight swings taken against him (six on his slider and two on his four-seamer).
What's next?
Roberts said that the Dodgers will watch Wednesday's outing closely to determine next steps for Díaz. Díaz could return to the Dodgers, or he could remain with Oklahoma City, which has at least six games remaining between the end of the Triple-A regular season and the Pacific Coast League Championship.
What else?
- The Dodgers got a bullpen reinforcement on Wednesday, activating Trade Deadline acquisition Kris Bubic from the 60-day IL. The left-hander has not pitched since May 14 with Kansas City and will have a week and a half to make his case for L.A.'s postseason bullpen.
- Edgardo Henriquez remains hopeful to return for the postseason after imaging on his back revealed a low-grade strain, Roberts said. Amid the uncertainty with Díaz, Henriquez would be an option to close postseason games if he is healthy.
- Last year's postseason closer, Roki Sasaki, could take on a similar leverage role this year once he's activated from a 15-day IL stint due to a right middle finger blister. But the Dodgers are weighing whether to keep him stretched out as a starter or move him to the 'pen for the final week and change.