Edwin Díaz did not need a formal title to make his point in the National League Division Series. Dave Roberts gave him the ball with saves on the line in Games 3 and 4, and Díaz finished both jobs as the Dodgers wrapped up the series in four games.
| Dodgers bullpen note | Figure |
|---|---|
| Díaz saves in NLDS Games 3-4 | 2 |
| Tanner Scott regular-season saves | 25 |
| Evan Phillips regular-season saves | 1 |
| Roki Sasaki relief outings since returning from IL | 4 |
| Clean innings by Sasaki in those outings | 4 |
The Dodgers now head to Milwaukee for an NL Championship Series rematch with the Brewers. Game 1 is Sunday at American Family Field, scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. CT and 5 p.m. PT on FOX, FOX Deportes and FOX One.
Roberts stopped short of publicly declaring Díaz the permanent closer, but his October usage has provided the clearest answer available. Díaz could handle the ninth inning, or be summoned for the game’s most dangerous pocket before it arrives. Either way, the Dodgers have found a dependable finishing option at the exact moment the postseason asks for one.
“The last two nights, that’s the reason why we acquired a guy like Edwin Díaz,” Roberts said after the division-series clincher. “He’s one of the great closers in the game. For him to be pitching his best right now, that’s what you hope for.”
Díaz said the club’s confidence has mattered as much as the assignment.
“The most important thing for me is that the team trusts me,” Díaz said. “They give me the ball every single day. That’s why I came here — to win games and close games like this one.”
A bullpen with lanes to fill
Putting Díaz at the back end gives Roberts more freedom with the rest of his relief corps. Scott and Phillips remain viable options for a save, but their value expands if they are not held back strictly for the ninth.
Scott allowed a two-run homer in Game 1 of the NLDS, then worked eighth-inning holds in Games 3 and 4. Phillips followed Scott to secure the Game 1 save. Both have handled late-game work before, giving Roberts coverage if Díaz is needed earlier or is unavailable.
Alex Vesia and Edgardo Henriquez add another layer. Vesia’s best lane can come when the opposing order turns left-handed, while Henriquez offers Roberts a right-on-right answer. Either can take a save chance if the situation dictates it, though their matchup flexibility may be more valuable than a fixed inning.
Vesia sees a familiar look in this collection of arms, recalling the bullpen group that helped carry the Dodgers to the 2024 championship.
“Dave’s got a lot of weapons,” Vesia said.
Sasaki remains another clean option
Roki Sasaki had been pushed into closing duties during last postseason, but his route has been different this year. He spent the regular season as a starter before a blister on his right hand sidelined him in August. Since coming off the injured list, he has made four relief appearances, including one in the postseason, and each has been a clean inning.
That is useful depth, even if Sasaki has not yet faced the kind of late-inning pressure he carried a year ago. With Díaz, Scott, Phillips, Vesia, Henriquez and Sasaki all available, Roberts can work from the matchup outward rather than protect one reliever for a traditional closer’s inning.
“We’re in a really good spot with the bullpen,” Roberts said. “It starts with having the trust of a couple guys at the back end.”
