Edwin Díaz is reportedly headed back to the injured list, just weeks after his much-anticipated return to the mound. The Los Angeles Dodgers placed the relief pitcher on the injured list with an unspecified injury, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. This is a massive blow for a Dodgers team that brought him in with huge expectations.
The Devastating Reality of a Tough Return
Remember the Edwin Díaz the Dodgers signed this past offseason? It felt like one of those “the rich get richer” moves, right? The guy was electric with the New York Mets the year before, rocking a ridiculous 1.63 ERA, a 0.87 WHIP, and mowing down 98 hitters in just 66.1 innings. We’re talking about a reliever with three All-Star selections, a Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year award, and two Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year Awards! That’s a serious resume.
But since his return on July 29 from elbow surgery that had him sidelined throughout May and June, Díaz has looked absolutely nothing like his dominant former self. His August numbers are just brutal: a jaw-dropping 15.88 ERA across seven appearances. He has also coughed up three of his five save opportunities since August 7. It hit rock bottom on Monday when he gave up three earned runs and four hits in a single inning against the Colorado Rockies. This is definitely not the shutdown closer the Dodgers thought they were getting.
Dodgers’ August Wobble Gets Worse
This latest setback for Díaz hits at a pretty rough time for the Dodgers. While they are still sitting eight games ahead of the San Diego Padres in the National League West, their August has been anything but smooth sailing. The team has a concerning 6-10 record this month. And get this: fellow National League contenders, the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers, have combined to go 6-1 against the reigning back-to-back champions during this stretch. To fill the void, Los Angeles recalled Emmet Sheehan from Triple-A, a move that shows how quickly they need to adjust.
It’s clear this isn’t the version of Díaz the Dodgers envisioned when they brought him aboard. They were hoping for that dominant Mets form back in the bullpen, especially heading towards October. For now, though, there are way more questions than answers surrounding this superstar closer and what comes next for the boys in blue.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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