DENVER — Edwin Diaz may be heading to the injured list but Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Tuesday he believes there is still hope for the high-profile reliever to turn around a disappointing season.
Roberts confirmed that Diaz, in the first year of a three-year, $69 million deal, would be placed on the injured list with what Roberts termed as neck inflammation, placing another speed bump in a season that has been anything but smooth for the 32-year-old right-hander. In 13.2 innings over 16 games, Diaz posted an 11.85 ERA and 2.561 WHIP.
This injury is the second of the season for Diaz, who missed 85 games after undergoing arthroscopic surgery in April to remove loose bodies from his right elbow.
In his Monday night appearance in Denver against the Colorado Rockies, Diaz gave up four hits and three runs in an inning on 23 pitches. He also saw his velocity drop noticeably at the end of his outing, but Roberts said he was not concerned about that on Tuesday.
“I think that there was some there was some 98s too,” Roberts said, referring to the speed Diaz was throwing, including a 93-mph fastball at the end of his appearance. “It’s just kind of the velocity variance. Honestly, I didn’t think too much of it until I heard this morning.”
What are the next steps for Dodgers reliever Edwin Diaz?
Roberts said Diaz will fly back to Los Angeles and see Dr. Robert Watkins, a trusted spine and back consultant for the Dodgers. Diaz will undergo imaging and Roberts is hopeful to have an idea of what’s been impacting his closer in recent games.
“I’m personally excited to find something that makes us understand what’s going on,” Roberts said. “We’ll know more after seeing Dr. Watkins. But you know, given where he’s at, I don’t see a situation where he (Diaz) would be out from there.
“I know Edwin is … I don’t know if it’s encouraged, but just knowing that there could be a reason why the stuff is not playing like it has in the past. And the neck, obviously there are ties with the whole body, the arm, and all that stuff matters.”
Roberts added that Tanner Scott will slot into the closer role in Diaz’s absence.
All quotations obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.