Why Dodgers aren't demoting closer Edwin Diaz amid horrible stretch

LOS ANGELES –  Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was clear after his team’s 5-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday.

He’s sticking with Edwin Diaz as the team's closer. Even after Diaz blew his third save since last week and elicited boos at Dodger Stadium.

Diaz gave up three earned runs on four hits in the top of the ninth. But Roberts voiced confidence in the three-time All-Star who the Dodgers signed in the offseason.

“I definitely don't think that he would have gotten here to this point if he were a guy that would spiral," Roberts told reporters postgame.

“I'm betting on the fact that the stuff will kind of right and he'll figure it out," Roberts said.

Roberts pushed back when asked about the possibility of finding an alternative to Diaz as the team's closer.

“Who's the other option?" he asked. “I mean, you look back at the last week and guys have struggled. And then I'm not going to sit here and play carousel and chase my tail and say when the guy's struggling and then when he doesn't pitch well, then why are you pitching him? So I don't do that. Everyone's got a role. They all have jobs to do and they all have to do their job. That's it.’’

Roberts also suggested the Dodgers don’t have another pitcher in his bullpen prepared to handle the high-leverage, late-inning situations that are supposed to be Diaz’s specialty.

“I have to have other options," Roberts said of making a change. “And to be quite honest, none of those guys (in the bullpen) really are throwing the baseball great."

Diaz has an ERA of 11.57 in 14 games and three blown saves, over the past four appearances. On Thursday, he gave up four consecutive hits while squandering the Dodgers' 4-2 lead.

"It's just hard for me to dissect every throw," Roberts said. "And I know that the intent was there tonight. … So I know he doesn't feel good about it. So we got to figure it out.

“We'll do digging as far as a coaching staff to figure something out there or something we can unlock. But honestly, right now as I sit here, I don't know the answer."

Roberts implied part of Diaz's problems stem from having missed about three months after having surgery on his right elbow. Since returning in late July, Diaz has made seven appearances and given up eight runs in 5 ⅔ innings for a 12.71 ERA.

“There is a little bit of he's coming back,’’ Roberts said. “And so the point is that yes, this game hurts, it matters, but he's got to find his way and he's got to have a runway to find his way.’’

Diaz spoke to reporters after the game.

“I know I’m struggling, so I want to do the best thing for our team and at the end of the day say give me the ball in the ninth," he said. “I will try to do my job. … I just got to get better, be consistent.

“Yeah, it’s frustrating because I know my ability, I know what I can do on the mound and don’t be able to do it sucks. You know, I just got to come tomorrow and try to keep getting better."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Dodgers aren't demoting closer Edwin Diaz amid horrible stretch