Man, Dodger fans have to be absolutely reeling after Thursday night. Their two-time defending champion squad just got hammered in the ninth by the Brewers, losing a 4-2 lead to drop a crushing 5-4 game. And guess who’s the center of attention again? None other than prized closer Edwin Díaz. The Dodgers have been struggling hard, losing nine of their last 13, and this latest blow is just brutal.
Another Ninth-Inning Nightmare
Going into the bottom of the ninth, the Dodgers had that comfortable 4-2 lead. But Díaz, who’s been a topic of conversation all season for all the wrong reasons, just couldn’t shut the door. He gave up four straight singles with only one out, allowing the Brewers to tie the game. Manager Dave Roberts had to pull him, bringing in Alex Vesia, who then promptly permitted the go-ahead run on another single. The Brewers preserved that lead for a stunning 5-4 win. This isn’t just one bad night, either. Díaz’s first season with the Dodgers since signing a three-year, $69 million free agent deal has been miserable, plain and simple. His overall ERA is sitting at an ugly 11.57, with six saves but four blown saves. Opposing batters are absolutely feasting on him, putting up a slash line of .375/.462/.643 this season. It’s like he’s turning every hitter into Yordan Alvarez on a heater.
Where Did the Velocity Go?
This terrible output is a massive contrast to what we saw from Díaz in 2025, when he put up a 1.63 ERA over 62 appearances as the Mets’ closer. He’s a three-time All-Star, even got top 10 Cy Young votes twice, and had a lifetime ERA+ of 144 coming into 2026. So, what happened? Early this season, the 32-year-old was out for over three months after elbow surgery. Since he’s returned from the injured list, it’s been even worse: a 12.71 ERA with three blown saves in just seven appearances. He’s lost a full tick of velocity off his fastball and just hasn’t commanded it. Last season he was firing fastballs at the top of the zone, but this year too many are hanging right over the heart of the plate. Plus, his whiff rates on both his fastball and slider have absolutely cratered.
The stakes for the Dodgers are incredibly high right now. They’re jostling with the Brewers and Braves for the top two National League seeds, which get a bye to the Division Series. After Thursday’s loss, they’re two games behind the Brewers for the best record in MLB, which means home-field advantage throughout the postseason. They’re also only a half-game ahead of the Braves, putting them at serious risk of falling out of those top two spots. Despite all this, it looks like Roberts is sticking with Díaz, which might just show how troubled and overworked the rest of the Dodgers bullpen is. When asked about it, Roberts simply told reporters, “Give me another option.” It’s a rough scene in L.A., and they need answers fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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