Despite the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ dominant 15-6 record, manager Dave Roberts has a worrying confession that puts the team’s success in a new light. Especially the bullpen.
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The Dodgers splashed $69 million to get Edwin Díaz. The price was justified considering he finished last year with a 1.63 ERA. However, looking at Diaz’s 2026 season so far, and his numbers on Sunday, fans would also agree with Roberts.
“Today was a tough evaluation,” Roberts said of Díaz. “I mean, it really was. Because I know what it’s supposed to look like, and when it doesn’t look like that, it gets a little concerning, really.”
The Dodgers went down against the Rockies on Sunday by 6-9. While the lineup’s failure to hit a home run was a concern, Roberts was focused more on Edwin Díaz.
Sunday was rough for Díaz.
Entering the eighth with the Dodgers trailing 4-6, he was pulled after allowing a walk, three hits, and a 2-RBI single, and not a single out that blew the game open, finishing with three earned runs in zero official innings. That’s unreal from the reigning NL reliever of the year, who had a 38% strikeout rate across 66.1 innings in 2025.
Dave Roberts admitted it’s a bit concerning seeing how Edwin Diaz looked on the mound yesterday for the Dodgers. What’s your concern level surrounding Diaz on a scale of 1-10?
Sunday was Díaz’s second appearance since April 10, when he gave up another 3 runs against the Rangers.
“Hopefully, it’s one of those things that he just hadn’t pitched in a while,” Roberts tried to stay positive. But Díaz’s velocity is alarming.
On Sunday, his fastball velocity went down to 95.4 mph, a significant drop from his average velocity last year (97.2 mph) and career average velocity (97.7 mph). Injury could surely be a reason.
Rumors suggested Díaz’s knee injury was still lingering despite Roberts terming it as a “day-to-day” injury.
And after LA’s Monday victory against Colorado (12-3), the 32 YO was put on a 15-day IL with right elbow loose bodies. He is scheduled to undergo surgery on Wednesday. Díaz would probably be out for three months, aiming for a return “during the second half of the season.”
In fact, Doc shared that after Sunday’s outing, he talked to the team’s training staff and “felt that he had some elbow discomfort. … We just wanted to be proactive, and felt that it was smart to get him an MRI.”
Right now, Edwin Díaz has four saves and 10 strikeouts, with a 10.50 ERA.
But seeing LA’s bullpen issues now, it takes us back to 2025.
Although they won the World Series and their offense and starting rotation were dominant, the bullpen was a concern. Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates ended the year with a 4.74 ERA and 5.23 ERA, respectively. This year is no different.
The Rockies scored 6 runs in the 7th and 8th innings on Sunday, proving how shaky the Dodgers’ bullpen is.
Maybe a 2025-like fix could offer some relief to Roberts and the Dodgers fans.
The Dodgers’ bullpen might see the same 2025-like strategy
The most notable change the Dodgers made to their bullpen last year was sending Roki Sasaki into the closing role.
The strategy proved successful as Sasaki had allowed just one run through 12.2 innings out of the bullpen last year.
This year, the context is the same.
Imago
MLB, Baseball Herren, USA Los Angeles Dodgers at Seattle Mariners Sep 26, 2025 Seattle, Washington, USA Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki 11 throws against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Seattle T-Mobile Park Washington USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJohnxFroschauerx 20250926_map_rf9_282
The Dodgers’ bullpen is struggling, and so is Sasaki in the starting rotation. Currently, Sasaki has a 6.11 ERA, and he has already walked 12 batters in just 17.2 innings. So, calls are getting louder to push Sasaki back to the bullpen.
“They’ve got to put him back to where he found his greatest success, where his lack of a variety of pitches will not hurt him, where he can throw 100 mph for 20 pitches and save the team with his strength,” LA Times’ Bill Plaschke suggested.
“As last October showed everyone, the bullpen is where he belongs.”
However, we think it’s too early for the Dodgers to send Sasaki back to the bullpen.
Last year, the Dodgers faced a battered rotation when Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw, and Roki Sasaki all were sidelined with injuries. So, while all other departments are performing, the focus would be on improving Díaz once he comes back. If the numbers get worse in the second half, Sasaki might get to close a few games.
