The Dodgers put Edwin Díaz on the 15-day injured list with right elbow loose bodies and said he will have surgery to address the problem, a blow that could sideline their new closer for about three months. Jake Eder was recalled to take his place on the active roster.
Díaz is expected back in the second half of the season, but the injury takes away the bullpen arm Los Angeles signed to a three-year, $69 million deal in the offseason. The timing matters because the Dodgers are again trying to protect a championship core after winning the World Series despite a shaky bullpen last fall.
That urgency only grew over the past two weeks. Díaz’s fastball has averaged 95.7 miles per hour this year, down from 97.2 miles per hour last season, and his recent outings have not looked crisp. On April 10, he entered a 7-4 game and gave up three runs against the Rangers. After that, he went more than a week without appearing in official game action, even as the Dodgers had save chances. Then last night at Coors Field, he came in at the bottom of the eighth and failed to record an out, allowing three hits and a walk.
The numbers before the setback still showed why the Dodgers made the bet. Díaz threw 66 1/3 innings in 2025 with a 1.63 earned run average, a 38% strikeout rate, an 8% walk rate and a 48.4% ground ball rate. But Los Angeles has long taken a patient approach to injuries and can afford to wait if it means getting him back healthy for the stretch run.
For now, the closer's job appears open. Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia and Blake Treinen could all see save chances while Díaz recovers, and Scott is back in good form this year after a rough 2025. Vesia has opened 2026 with ten scoreless appearances, while Treinen brings past closing experience. The Dodgers wanted Díaz to stabilize the ninth inning for a three-peat push. Instead, they are back to sorting out who gets the ball when the lead is on the line.
