The Los Angeles Dodgers are dealing with another major setback for closer Edwin Diaz, who just hit the injured list again on Tuesday, this time with inflammation on the right side of his neck. This marks his second IL stint in his first season with the Dodgers, and it comes amidst a brutal run where his stuff just hasn’t been there.
Diaz’s Nightmare Season Keeps Getting Worse
What in the world is going on with Edwin Diaz? His numbers are screaming for help. He’s currently sitting on a 2-2 record with an absolutely wild 11.85 ERA and has blown four of his 11 save opportunities through 16 games. This neck issue is supposedly “something that he felt Monday night,” according to manager Dave Roberts, who added, “We don’t know if it’s something that has been there, call it a week or whatever, but it kind of showed its head last night. So we’re going to kind of address it.” Diaz is back in Los Angeles for imaging, and everyone is holding their breath.
This isn’t his first trip to the IL this year, either. Diaz was sidelined from April 20 to July 29 with an elbow injury that needed a procedure to remove loose bodies. And since coming back, it’s been even worse. In seven games, he’s 1-2 with a staggering 15.88 ERA and has blown three saves. Just Monday night against Colorado, he entered the ninth with a commanding 11-2 lead and still coughed up three runs on four hits. Roberts didn’t mince words, saying, “We know that there could be a reason why the stuff is not playing like it has in the past.” That’s a huge understatement for a guy who was supposed to be a lockdown closer.
Ohtani’s Arm Is Back, And He’s Still Raking
While one Dodger is crashing and burning, another superstar is steadily working his way back to full strength. Shohei Ohtani threw another bullpen session before Tuesday night’s game, pushing through his own battles with left knee inflammation and right biceps discomfort. Roberts said Ohtani threw “around 35 pitches, and threw his entire pitch mix.” When asked about it, Ohtani just gave a “thumbs-up,” which is classic Ohtani.
The next step is live batting practice, which means we are getting closer to seeing him back on the mound. He last pitched way back on July 3 against San Diego, where he gave up three runs on seven hits and struck out nine over six innings. Even with the injuries, Ohtani’s season pitching stats are ridiculous: 8-2 with an incredible 1.79 ERA in 14 starts. And, oh yeah, he still leads Los Angeles with 29 homers. The guy is just built different.
So, the Dodgers are navigating some serious injury waters with their top arms. Imaging results for Diaz will be huge for understanding his long-term outlook this season, while Ohtani’s return to the mound promises more must-watch moments. It’s a tale of two injury recoveries, and the baseball world is watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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