The Los Angeles Dodgers arrived in Denver having won 15 of their first 20 games. The rotation was healthy, the lineup was producing, and the bullpen had been one of the more reliable units in baseball. For a team built to compete in October, the early returns were exactly what the organization wanted.
Then Sunday happened. Edwin Díaz took the mound against Colorado on Sunday and left without retiring a single batter. His fastball touched as low as 92.8 mph, a number that barely resembled the pitcher the Dodgers had signed. The Dodgers dropped the game 9-6, and Roberts signaled afterward that he needed to sit down with his closer.
Monday brought the full picture. And it changed everything at the back of the Dodgers’ bullpen.
Roberts Addresses the Díaz Situation
An MRI on Monday revealed loose bodies in Díaz’s right elbow. The star closer will undergo a procedure at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic on Wednesday, with the Dodgers expecting a second-half return.
Manager Dave Roberts addressed the situation directly after Monday’s 12-3 win over Colorado, and his words carried genuine relief alongside the disappointment.
“It is good to have some validation on why the velocity was down,” Roberts said. The MRI confirmed what the performance had been suggesting for days: something was wrong mechanically, and now there was an explanation for it.
GettyToronto, Ontario, Canada. October, 24, 2025: Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) reacts during the sixth inning of Game one of the World Series between the Los Angeles Angeles and the Toronto Blue Jays at Roger Centre on Friday, October 24, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Who Closes Games Now
Roberts made one thing clear. The closer title is not being handed to anyone right now.
What he does have is options, and he expressed genuine confidence in the group tasked with protecting leads in Díaz’s absence.
The front three candidates are Tanner Scott, Blake Treinen, and Alex Vesia.
Scott has allowed just one earned run across ten appearances this season. Vesia has been arguably the most consistent arm in the group, surrendering no runs while striking out 10 batters across 8⅔ innings. Treinen had not allowed a run in his first eight outings before Sunday’s rough appearance against Colorado.
Left-hander Jake Eder was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to fill Díaz’s roster spot. The former starter, acquired from Washington for cash earlier this month, pitched the ninth inning of Monday’s win.
Getty
Sasaki Stays in the Dodgers Rotation
One question that surfaced immediately after the Díaz news was whether Roki Sasaki could shift to the bullpen to shore up the back end. Sasaki showed in last year’s postseason that his stuff plays in short bursts.
Brandon Gomes shut it down quickly. When asked directly whether Sasaki was a candidate to move to the bullpen, Gomes said: “No.”
The Dodgers remain committed to Sasaki’s development as a starter. With Blake Snell expected back around mid-May and the team already running a six-man rotation, the organizational thinking on Sasaki is not changing.
GettyRoki Sasaki was strong in his first outing for the Dodgers on Monday.
Final Word for the Dodgers
Losing Díaz for several months is a genuine blow. He was brought to Los Angeles to solve the closer question and free up the rest of the bullpen to operate in ideal situations. That structure no longer exists, at least for now.
But reinforcements are coming. The roster is deep enough to absorb this.
The ninth inning looks different now. The destination does not.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Edwin Diaz Injury Update: What Dave Roberts Said About Dodgers Closer appeared first on Heavy Sports.