Edwin Diaz hit the injured list Tuesday with inflammation on the right side of his neck, yet another troubling turn in what’s been a seriously tough first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s a major setback for a guy who used to be one of baseball’s absolute premier relievers, but just can’t find that dominant form this year. Diaz is back in Los Angeles and they’re gonna get some imaging done to figure out how bad it really is.
Roberts Points to a Physical Culprit Behind Diaz’s Struggles
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spilled the beans, saying Diaz felt the neck issue Monday night. They’re not sure if it’s been bothering him for a week or more, but it definitely “showed its head” then. The timing here is huge, right? It makes you wonder if this neck problem is what’s been dogging Diaz through his recent awful outings. Roberts flat out admitted they “know that there could be a reason why the stuff is not playing like it has in the past.” It really seems like the team thinks there’s a physical explanation for why his pitches aren’t getting the usual results. The Dodgers now have to figure out if it’s just a recovery thing or if this neck inflammation is part of something bigger.
Numbers Don’t Lie: A Season Full of Warning Signs
Diaz’s season stats are just brutal, man. He’s sitting at a 2-2 record with a shocking 11.85 ERA and only seven saves in 11 opportunities over 16 appearances. But get this: it’s been even worse since he came back from an elbow injury that kept him sidelined from April 20 through July 29. He had a procedure to remove loose bodies from that elbow, and since returning, his ERA is a sky-high 15.88 with three blown saves in just seven appearances. Monday’s game against the Colorado Rockies was a perfect example. Diaz came in during the ninth with an 11-2 lead, a comfortable cushion, but he still gave up three runs on four hits before they finally closed out the win. It’s been rough.
The Dodgers did get some good news with Shohei Ohtani throwing around 35 pitches in a bullpen session, moving closer to his own return to the mound. But for that bullpen, which is absolutely banking on Diaz to be their closer, the immediate, screaming concern is getting their struggling guy healthy. And hopefully, with that health, comes the dominant version of Diaz we all remember.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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