Dodgers Place Edwin Díaz Back on IL Just Weeks After Triumphant Return
The Los Angeles Dodgers are placing closer Edwin Díaz back on the injured list shortly after his return from elbow surgery, forcing the team to rely on Tanner Scott for late-game saves as the playoffs approach.
HotTakes Editorial TeamUpdated 1 min read
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The Los Angeles Dodgers are placing Edwin Díaz back on the injured list, proving once again that baseball is a cruel, unfeeling simulation. According to MLB Trade Rumors, the star closer is heading back to the shelf just weeks after making his highly anticipated return.
Just 19 days ago, Díaz made a cinematic comeback from a 60-day IL stint following April surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow. He jogged out to the mound on his own bobblehead night, the trumpets blared, and he immediately started pumping 99 mph fastballs to lock down a save. Now, the trumpets are being packed back into their velvet cases.
"MLB Trade Rumors reported the roster move on August 18."
The Dodgers have been cruising despite a comical string of pitching injuries. They are sitting comfortably atop the National League and fighting for a first-round bye. They survived the first half of the season without Díaz because Tanner Scott turned into an absolute machine, converting 16 of 18 save opportunities with a 2.32 ERA.
Evan Phillips is also back in the setup mix after his own Tommy John recovery, and the Los Angeles bullpen currently ranks second in the majors in strikeout rate. They have the arms to get by in the regular season. But there is a massive difference between surviving a Tuesday night in August and trying to get six high-leverage outs in October without your most terrifying weapon.
For anyone holding Los Angeles futures or betting live totals, this completely changes the late-game math. A bullpen anchored by Scott and Phillips is solid, but a relief corps missing its apex predator is always vulnerable to the kind of ninth-inning chaos that shreds betting slips.
Los Angeles will hand the ninth-inning keys back to Scott while they wait for a definitive timeline on Díaz. If this is just a minor flare-up, they have the luxury of resting him until the playoffs. If his elbow requires more serious maintenance, the Dodgers are going to have to navigate October the hard way.
Key stats
Key statsTanner Scott: 16-for-18 in save opportunities, 2.32 ERA
Dodgers bullpen: 2nd in MLB in strikeout rate
Edwin Díaz: Hit 99 mph in his July 30 return
What's next
The Dodgers will rely on Tanner Scott to close games while waiting to see if Díaz can return for the playoffs or if his elbow requires more serious intervention.
