Dave Roberts has a call to make in Los Angeles.
After Diaz allowed three runs within the ninth inning Friday towards the Texas Rangers to blow his first save as a Dodger, Roberts confirmed he saved the nearer out of Saturday’s recreation totally.
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“Just staying away from Diaz, he was down today,” Roberts stated. “The velocity was down, so we’ll see how he feels tomorrow.” (h/t Jack Harris of the California Post).
The remark was temporary, nevertheless it carried weight. Diaz signed a three-year, $69 million deal this offseason, the best common annual worth ever given to a aid pitcher. The Dodgers introduced him in to bolster a bullpen that price them in 2025, and his availability early within the season is already a priority.
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According to MLB Savant, Diaz’s fastball is averaging 95.8 mph this yr, down from 97.2 mph in 2025. On Friday, his fastball sat at 95.5 mph. Roberts and the Dodgers teaching employees have supplied a measured response. Diaz tends to have a decrease common pitch pace early within the season and will get it again as he goes deeper into the season. It’s nonetheless too early to inform what issue could possibly be affecting his pitch speeds up to now, nevertheless it warrants some warning by the workforce to give him some relaxation from higher-pressure conditions.
The Dodgers’ high-leverage choices could be put to a direct check if an IL stint turns into vital. Blake Treinen is one chance, carrying a 2.76 ERA throughout 176.1 innings in his Dodgers profession. Roberts nonetheless believes within the right-hander, and on Saturday night time, Treinen dealt with the primary two outs of the ninth earlier than a Max Muncy error prolonged the inning. Alex Vesia could be one other logical choice, having set a profession excessive with 5 saves final season.
Los Angeles Dodgers aid pitcher Edwin Diaz (3)© Gary A&interval; Vasquez-Imagn Images
Then there’s Tanner Scott. His case is extra difficult. The left-hander struggled to restrict runs for a 4.74 ERA over 57 innings pitched in 2025, his first yr with the membership, a season that Roberts framed as an outlier yr for the 31-year-old. Whether Scott will be trusted in a closing position in early 2026 is a query the Dodgers aren’t keen to reply.
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For now, the hope in Los Angeles is that Diaz’s velocity follows its normal trajectory and the dialog turns to how Diaz bounced again from an early battle in his first yr with the workforce. If it doesn’t, Roberts will want to discover solutions sooner moderately than later.
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This story was initially printed by Athlon Sports on Apr 12, 2026, the place it first appeared within the MLB part. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
