DENVER — Edwin Diaz’s ninth-inning outing in Monday night’s series opener against the Colorado Rockies offered more insight than Dodgers manager Dave Roberts might have imagined when he called the bullpen and brought in the struggling closer to finish the game with a nine-run lead.
Diaz had a shaky inning, facing eight batters and allowing three runs on four hits while hitting a batter in the 11-5 win.
Tuesday, Diaz landed on the injured list with neck inflammation, a condition that became clear after Monday’s game.
“He is heading back to L.A.,” Roberts said before Tuesday’s game. “Dr. Watkins, back home, is gonna check him out tomorrow morning. It’s something that he felt last night. We don’t know if it’s something that has been there the last week or whatever, but it showed its head last night, so we’re going to address it.”
Diaz has had a tough first season with the Dodgers, posting an 11.85 ERA in 16 appearances compared to his career mark of a 3.06 ERA over 536 games.
Diaz was on the IL from April 20-July 29 because of an elbow injury that required a procedure to remove loose bodies, and he has struggled since his return, going 1-2 with a 15.88 ERA and three blown saves in seven games. He’s allowed 10 earned runs in 5⅔ innings this month, reminiscent of his 18.00 April ERA before he landed on the IL.
“We weren’t seeing any specific issues outside of the performance,” Roberts said. “(He was) talking to the trainer last night and said there was something in his neck that that was bothering him.”
Diaz has been an elite closer through most of his previous nine years in the major leagues – three with Seattle and six with the New York Mets, where he posted a 1.63 ERA last season in 62 appearances spanning 66⅓ innings. He recorded 28 saves in 31 opportunities and walked 21 while striking out 98.
“I know Edwin is encouraged to know that there could be a reason why the stuff is not playing like it has in the past,” Roberts said. “I’m personally excited to find something that makes us understand what’s going on.”
Roberts was optimistic about having his closer back in the ’pen before the season ends.
“Given where he’s at, I don’t see a situation where he’d be out for the year,” Roberts said.
OHTANI ON TRACK
Shohei Ohtani stayed on schedule, throwing 35 pitches in another bullpen session at Coors Field on Tuesday afternoon with all of his pitches in the mix. The four-time league MVP is working his way back from left knee inflammation and right biceps discomfort.
“I asked him about his bullpen and he gave me a thumbs up,” Roberts said, indicating the two-way star might be ready to throw live batting practice when the team returns to L.A. later this week. “I can see the next step being live.”
Ohtani last pitched July 3 against the San Diego Padres, when he gave up three runs, seven hits and struck out nine over six innings. He is 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts this season.
RELIEF FOR THE BULLPEN
In a corresponding roster move to Diaz’s departure, right-hander Emmet Sheehan was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City, likely for a short stint in the bullpen before the Dodgers make an anticipated move to activate Brock Stewart from the 15-day IL, where he has been working through right shoulder discomfort.
Brock has been a reliable relief arm, and while Roberts thought it was “probably unlikely” that he’d be activated during the three-game series in Colorado, he hinted at an imminent move.
“Expect him to be active soon,” Roberts said.
If Sheehan sees relief action, it will be his first time pitching out of the bullpen in nearly a year. Sheehan has been a starter throughout his three major league seasons, appearing in 48 games (43 as a starter). He started in all 20 of his appearances with the Dodgers this season, posting a 4-8 record with a 5.29 ERA, before being demoted following the trade for Tarik Skubal.
“For today, Emmet will be long relief,” Roberts said. “Whatever we need, Emmet’s willing to do.”
Sheehan was eager to get a fresh opportunity after what he called a “bad year” so far.
“It’s been a tough year out there, but I’m feeling a lot better now,” Sheehan said. “I’m working on getting back to being myself from years prior and trying to pitch like that and help the team a little bit.”
UP NEXT
Dodgers (RHP Roki Sasaki, 5-5, 4.46 ERA) at Rockies (LHP Kyle Freeland, 4-10, 6.27 ERA), Wednesday, 5:40 p.m. PT, SportsNet LA, 570 AM