The Los Angeles Dodgers activated Edwin Díaz off the injured list, but don’t get it twisted, this isn’t some triumphant return. With a brutal 11.85 ERA on the season and only a week and a half left in the regular season, his shot at making the postseason roster is hanging by the thinnest thread. This isn’t just about getting healthy; it’s about proving he can still pitch at this level.
An 11.85 ERA Is Not a ‘Welcome Back’
Dude signed a three-year deal back in December, right? But his season has been a total mess. We’re talking 16 appearances where he’s given up runs in NINE of them. An 11.85 ERA? That’s not just bad, that’s historically rough, even with a 6.37 xERA trying to soften the blow. He’s got 19 strikeouts and 10 walks in 13 2/3 innings, which tells you everything you need to know about control. Early in the season, he went under the knife for arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow in April, costing him three and a half months on the field. The numbers before surgery weren’t great, but what happened after? Forget about it.
The Rehab Nightmare and Roberts’ Blunt Assessment
After the elbow surgery, his strikeout rate plunged from 30.3 percent in seven games to a shocking 19.6 percent in nine games. His career rate through 2025 was 39.9 percent, so you know that’s a huge red flag. Then came the neck inflammation, sidelining him since August 18. And the rehab assignment with Oklahoma City? Forget about it. He threw more balls than strikes in three out of five appearances, giving up six runs, seven walks, and only four strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. That’s not a tune-up, that’s a breakdown. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts didn’t mince words about it either, telling reporters in Cincinnati that Díaz has to throw strikes, and quality ones, to be considered for October. “Like anything, it should be a meritocracy. You have to earn the right of opportunities, and you’ve also got to perform. Eddie understands that,” Roberts said on SportsNet LA. “Where we’re at now, we need guys to buy in, perform and go from there. That’s what he’s about.”
Meanwhile, Landon Knack got optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City, even after doing his job with aplomb. Knack tossed four scoreless innings in relief and earned the win in the Dodgers’ division clincher, with a 3.86 ERA across three stints in the majors this year. He even had the Dodgers’ longest save of the season, a 2 2/3 inning gem. That’s “meritocracy” in action right there.
So, with just a few games left in the regular season, Díaz has to show something truly special to earn his spot. It’s perform or sit, plain and simple. The clock is ticking big time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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