Dave Roberts has a decision to make in Los Angeles.
After Diaz allowed three runs in the ninth inning Friday against the Texas Rangers to blow his first save as a Dodger, Roberts confirmed he kept the closer out of Saturday’s game entirely.
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“Just staying away from Diaz, he was down today,” Roberts said. “The velocity was down, so we’ll see how he feels tomorrow.” (h/t Jack Harris of the California Post).
The comment was brief, but it carried weight. Diaz signed a three-year, $69 million deal this offseason, the highest average annual value ever given to a relief pitcher. The Dodgers brought him in to bolster a bullpen that cost them in 2025, and his availability early in the season is already a concern.
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According to MLB Savant, Diaz’s fastball is averaging 95.8 mph this year, down from 97.2 mph in 2025. On Friday, his fastball sat at 95.5 mph. Roberts and the Dodgers coaching staff have offered a measured response. Diaz tends to have a lower average pitch speed early in the season and gets it back as he goes deeper into the season. It’s still too early to tell what factor could be affecting his pitch speeds so far, but it warrants some caution by the team to give him some rest from higher-pressure situations.
The Dodgers’ high-leverage options would be put to an immediate test if an IL stint becomes necessary. Blake Treinen is one possibility, carrying a 2.76 ERA across 176.1 innings in his Dodgers career. Roberts still believes in the right-hander, and on Saturday night, Treinen handled the first two outs of the ninth before a Max Muncy error extended the inning. Alex Vesia would be another logical option, having set a career high with five saves last season.
Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Edwin Diaz (3)© Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Then there is Tanner Scott. His case is more complicated. The left-hander struggled to limit runs for a 4.74 ERA over 57 innings pitched in 2025, his first year with the club, a season that Roberts framed as an outlier year for the 31-year-old. Whether Scott can be trusted in a closing role in early 2026 is a question the Dodgers are not eager to answer.
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For now, the hope in Los Angeles is that Diaz’s velocity follows its usual trajectory and the conversation turns to how Diaz bounced back from an early struggle in his first year with the team. If it doesn’t, Roberts will need to find answers sooner rather than later.
Related: Giants Announce Luis Arraez News After Leaving Orioles Game
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
