Dave Roberts’ Edwin Diaz Comments Leave Dodgers With Decision to Make
Dave Roberts has a call to make in Los Angeles.
After Diaz allowed three runs within the ninth inning Friday in opposition to the Texas Rangers to blow his first save as a Dodger, Roberts confirmed he stored the nearer out of Saturday’s sport completely.
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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 transient, nevertheless it carried weight. Diaz signed a three-year, $69 million deal this offseason, the very best common annual worth ever given to a aid pitcher. The Dodgers introduced him in to bolster a bullpen that value 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 workers have provided a measured response. Diaz tends to have a decrease common pitch velocity 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 might be affecting his pitch speeds to date, nevertheless it warrants some warning by the group to give him some relaxation from higher-pressure conditions.
The Dodgers’ high-leverage choices can be put to a direct check if an IL stint turns into crucial. 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 can be one other logical possibility, having set a profession excessive with 5 saves final season.
Los Angeles Dodgers aid pitcher Edwin Diaz (3)© Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Then there’s Tanner Scott. His case is extra sophisticated. 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 marked 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 are usually not keen to reply.
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For now, the hope in Los Angeles is that Diaz’s velocity follows its regular trajectory and the dialog turns to how Diaz bounced again from an early wrestle in his first yr with the group. If it does not, Roberts will want to discover solutions sooner relatively than later.
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This story was initially revealed 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.
