Los Angeles Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz The Los Angeles Dodgers are standing by their man. Manager Dave Roberts gave Edwin Diaz the dreaded vote of confidence after the closer recorded his fourth blown save of the season in Thursday's 5-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. "Give me another option," Roberts said, according to ESPN's Alden Gonzalez when asked about replacing Diaz as closer. It hasn't been smooth sailing for Diaz since signing that three-year, $69 million contract with the Dodgers in December. He missed more than three months of the 2026 season after having elbow surgery in April Since returning after the All-Star break, Diaz hasn't flashed the type of stuff that made him a perennial reliever of the year candidate with the Seattle Mariners and New York Mets. In fact, Diaz has blown saves in three of his last four appearances while posting an ugly 18.00 ERA in those games. "It's frustrating because I know my ability. I know what I can do on the mound. To not be able to do it, it sucks," Diaz said Thursday, per Gonzalez. But Roberts knows that this isn't time for the two-time defending World Series champions to panic. After all, the Dodgers have an eight-game lead in the National League West and the best title odds (23.3%) according to FanGraphs. "It's just not that easy when a guy's done it for seven, eight years, whatever it is, to change routines," Roberts said, according to ESPN. "Part of my job is to give him the best opportunity to prepare and have success, and then it goes to the player to kind of go out there and do their job." Looking for the perfect gift for a baseball player in your life? Check out our brand new baseball lifestyle brand!
The 32-year-old Diaz, who had 28 saves last season for the Mets while earning his third All-Star nod, knows the status quo won't do. "I've just got to find a way to pitch better," Diaz said, per Gonzalez. "I've been in this position before, and I've been able to find a way to get better. I've just got to sit down with the pitching coaches to see what I'm missing and what they say to see if we can fix it." Do you have a take to get off your chest? Do you want to engage in a growing Dodgers community? Comment on our content alongside staff and fans alike!
That begins Friday night, when the Dodgers host the NL Central-leading Brewers in the second game of their four-game series. More MLB: Phillies Rout Twins In Lopsided Field Of Dreams Game