On Tuesday, the Dodgers sidelined their All-Star closer, Edwin Diaz, sending him to the injured list due to inflammation in his neck. This marks the second time Díaz has landed on the IL this year, following a previous three-month absence to undergo a surgical procedure for removing loose fragments from his throwing elbow. That initial stint began on April 20, with his return occurring on July 29.
Manager Dave Roberts shared on Wednesday (according to the LA Times) that Díaz underwent an MRI on his neck which revealed no structural damage or nerve issues, calling the results “clean.” Roberts characterized this diagnostic outcome as the “best-case scenario.”
The inaugural campaign for Díaz in a Dodgers uniform has been incredibly difficult. Following his agreement to a three-year contract worth $69 million during the winter, his initial season has proved calamitous. Across his 16 appearances, he has registered a dismal 11.85 ERA alongside a 2.56 WHIP and a -1.4 WAR. While securing seven saves, he has also blown four opportunities, recording seven scoreless appearances contrasted with five games where he surrendered more than one run.
While the joint debris in his throwing elbow might have accounted for his struggles early in the season, those difficulties should have resolved once he was activated. Instead, his performance declined further, yielding a 12.91 ERA and converting just three out of six save opportunities across nine games since coming back. His production has actually degraded, which is remarkable given how poorly he started.
During a relief appearance on Monday evening in Colorado, he surrendered three runs on four hits over a single frame. He failed to record a strikeout and also hit a batsman. Following that performance, the Dodgers and Díaz seemingly reached a mutual agreement that a change was necessary.
To fill his spot, the team is bringing up Emmet Sheehan from Triple-A to reinforce their vulnerable relief corps.
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What lies ahead for the faltering Dodgers relief staff?
This outcome is far from what the organization anticipated when they sought to fortify one of their rare vulnerabilities after securing back-to-back World Series titles. Díaz previously ranked among the game’s premier relief weapons during the 2025 season, repeating the stellar form he displayed in 2022, 2020, and 2018.
The Dodgers might lean on Tanner Scott (2.20 ERA, 0.92 WHIP) and Alex Vesia (2.91 ERA, 1.22 WHIP) as their primary high-leverage arms, though they also have alternatives in Jack Dreyer and Evan Phillips, the latter of whom has prior experience closing games for the franchise.
Currently, the team’s relief unit lacks both depth and effectiveness. Just a couple of days ago, when questioned about using Díaz during high-leverage moments, manager Dave Roberts acknowledged his lack of viable alternatives.
“Show me another choice. I can’t simply decide to move (Díaz) into low-pressure situations. I need other players available, and frankly, none of our other relievers have been pitching well lately. That is simply the reality we face,” Roberts explained.
Observers will remember that Los Angeles dealt with significant relief concerns late last year as well. However, transitioning Roki Sasaki to a relief role for the postseason, combined with deep outings from a quartet of elite starting pitchers, ultimately propelled the team to another championship victory.
Once again, it appears they will have to discover a solution to get them through.
