Dave Roberts addresses Edwin Diaz concern after another rough outing

Dave Roberts addresses Edwin Diaz concern after another rough outing originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Edwin Diaz’s difficult first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers has taken another troubling turn.

The Dodgers placed their closer on the injured list Tuesday because of inflammation on the right side of his neck, adding another setback to a season in which Diaz has struggled to find the dominant form that once made him one of baseball’s premier relievers.

Diaz returned to Los Angeles on Tuesday and is expected to undergo imaging to determine the severity of the injury.

“It’s kind of something that he felt [Monday] night,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “We don’t know if it’s something that has been there, call it a week or whatever, but it kind of showed its head last night. So we’re going to kind of address it.”

The timing raises questions about whether the neck issue has contributed to Diaz’s recent struggles.

Diaz is 2-2 with an 11.85 ERA and seven saves in 11 opportunities across 16 appearances this season.

His numbers have been even more alarming since returning from an elbow injury that kept him sidelined from April 20 through July 29. Diaz underwent a procedure to remove loose bodies from the elbow and has posted a 15.88 ERA with three blown saves in seven appearances since returning.

Monday’s outing against the Colorado Rockies provided another warning sign.

Diaz entered the ninth inning with Los Angeles holding a comfortable 11-2 lead but allowed three runs and four hits before the Dodgers finished off the victory.

Roberts acknowledged there could be a physical explanation for why Diaz’s pitches haven’t produced their usual results.

“[We] know that there could be a reason why the stuff is not playing like it has in the past,” Roberts said.

The Dodgers now must determine whether Diaz simply needs time to recover or whether the neck inflammation is part of a larger issue.

Los Angeles also received encouraging news Tuesday: Shohei Ohtani threw approximately 35 pitches in a bullpen session while progressing toward his return to the mound.

But for a Dodgers bullpen counting on Diaz to close games, the immediate concern is getting their struggling closer healthy — and hopefully getting the dominant version of Diaz back with him.

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