As everyone expected, the Los Angeles Dodgers have taken MLB by storm to begin the 2026 campaign. After suffering a surprising series defeat at the hands of the Cleveland Guardians, the Dodgers have responded by rattling off wins in seven of their past eight games. On Saturday, L.A. picked up a 6-3 win over the Texas Rangers to ensure it would win the ongoing series between the two teams.
Los Angeles’ clash vs. Texas hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing, though, as closer Edwin Diaz blew a save opportunity in the opener on Friday, only to be saved by a game-winning home run from Max Muncy. After Diaz wasn’t used on Saturday, manager Dave Roberts issued some concerning comments about his status moving forward.
Dave Roberts Provides Worrying Edwin Diaz Update
As part of another busy offseason for the Dodgers, they signed Diaz to a three-year, $69 million contract to come in and be their new closer. While Roki Sasaki ended up filling this role during the team’s World Series run last year, the hope is that he will eventually become a part of their starting rotation.
Simply put, Diaz is one of the best closers in the game of baseball. He posted the third All-Star campaign of his career in 2025 when he posted a 6-3 record with a sparkling 1.63 ERA, 28 saves, and 98 strikeouts. By bringing Diaz to town, L.A. ensured that the backend of its bullpen would be in good shape.
The problem is that, while Diaz has four saves to his name already this year, he has a bloated 6.00 ERA. That’s largely because he gave up three runs in his latest outing on Friday, allowing the Rangers to tie the game at seven runs apiece. While the Dodgers eventually won, it was clear that Diaz was not himself, and after not pitching in a clutch situation on Saturday, Roberts addressed his status.
“Just staying away from Diaz, he was down today,” Roberts revealed after the game. “The velocity was down, so we’ll probably see how he feels tomorrow.”
Edwin Diaz’s Status for Dodgers Suddenly Worth Monitoring
GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 27: Edwin Díaz #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium on March 27, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
It’s unknown if Diaz is dealing with any sort of injury, but anytime a pitcher’s velocity declines, that’s a sign that there could be something going on underneath the surface that is causing problems. The Dodgers are giving Diaz some time off before determining what the next course of action is, but it’s safe to say there’s reason for concern right now.
The good news is that Los Angeles’ roster is loaded, so if Diaz has to miss time, the rest of the bullpen should be able to pick up the slack. In the meantime, L.A. will look to finish off a sweep of Texas on Sunday afternoon, with first pitch for this series finale scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET. Sasaki will take the mound for the Dodgers, while Jacob deGrom will toe the rubber for the Rangers.
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