Could Edwin Diaz reclaim Dodgers closer position?…
In a excellent world, Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts said, the group would love to have one set closer coming into the playoffs.
And by the end of Tuesday’s 7-0 win over the San Diego Padres, one sudden title may need thrown their hat back into the ring.
Per week in the past, the Dodgers weren’t sure Edwin Díaz would even be on their playoff roster, after the $69 million offseason signing misplaced his closer job amid an injury-plagued season marred by an ERA of practically 12.00.
In three outings since returning from the injured record, however, the three-time All-Star has out of the blue seemed like his outdated dominant self again.
Edwin Diaz pitches throws a pitch during the ninth inning of the Dodgers’ 10-4 win over the Giants on Sept. 19, 2026 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. IMAGN IMAGES via GWN Connect
So a lot so, Roberts said it stays “certainly possible” that he might issue into the Dodgers’ ninth-inning October plans.
Roberts made that declare after Díaz’s best efficiency yet, when he retired the top of the Padres’ batting order in order in a dominant fifth-inning sequence.
That marked the right-hander’s third scoreless look in a row –– a stretch that has included only one hit, one stroll and six strikeouts –– and continued an unexpected return to type triggered by a latest mechanical adjustment he made during a minor-league rehab stint.
“His last three have been fantastic with us,” Roberts said. “I wanted to see him against their better hitters, and he did a really nice job.”
Indeed, Díaz started his inning by ringing up Fernando Tatis Jr. on a front-door slider. He then fanned Dustin Harris at the end of a nine-pitch at-bat with a swing-and-miss slider. Had he used an ABS problem, he might have punched out Manny Machado too. But he retired him all the same with a tender tapper back to the mound.
“Given all that he’s had to go through this year,” Roberts said, “to right the ship is a big credit to him.”
But will or not it’s enough to put him back in consideration for closing duties?
Roberts made sure not to shut that door yet.
Edwin Diaz celebrates after recording the ultimate out in the Dodgers’ 8-2 win over the Giants on Sept. 18, 2026 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Getty Images
“The way he’s throwing, the ninth is possible, yes,” the supervisor said.
At the very least, it provides one more subplot to the ultimate week of the Dodgers’ common season.
The group, of course, has other closer choices to take into account. Tanner Scott has transformed 23 of 27 save alternatives with a 2.77 ERA as Díaz’s substitute this 12 months. Roki Sasaki has also returned to reduction duties as he did at the end of last season, when he emerged as an emergency closing option during the Dodgers’ run to a second-straight World Series.
And as Roberts famous Tuesday, a closer-by-committee plan stays in play, as effectively.
But as the Dodgers set out for a three-peat this 12 months, they always envisioned Díaz –– and his trademark trumpet bullpen entrance –– being a staple at the end of video games.
Though he suffered a career-worst marketing campaign, changing just seven of 11 save alternatives while lacking three months with an elbow injury and another with neck inflammation, there is perhaps time for him to reclaim his unique position yet.
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