Edwin Díaz gave the Dodgers a cleaner inning Wednesday, but not yet the kind of certainty that locks down a postseason bullpen job. The right-hander worked a scoreless ninth for Triple-A Oklahoma City, continuing a rehab assignment that has been anything but straightforward.
Key takeaways
- Díaz threw 15 pitches, 11 for strikes, in a scoreless inning against Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
- His previous rehab appearance ended with five earned runs allowed while recording only two outs.
- The Dodgers have not decided whether Díaz will be activated immediately or remain in Triple-A.
- Dave Roberts said Díaz still must provide enough proof to justify a place on the postseason roster.
- Los Angeles activated left-hander Kris Bubic from the 60-day injured list as another bullpen option.
Díaz gets through the ninth, but questions remain
Díaz navigated around a two-out double by Miguel Andujar, who scorched the ball at 104.3 mph, to finish his fifth outing with Oklahoma City without allowing a run. It was a needed response after Sunday’s rough appearance, when he was charged with five earned runs in two-thirds of an inning.
The inning was not spotless from a stuff standpoint. Oklahoma City hitters took eight swings against Díaz and missed none of them. He threw six sliders and two four-seam fastballs on those swings, but still found a way to close out the frame.
Across five Triple-A appearances, Díaz has yielded six runs over 4 1/3 innings, leaving him with a 12.46 ERA on assignment. The command has been a concern: seven walks against four strikeouts.
The Dodgers had initially anticipated a short rehab stay. Instead, the club has kept Díaz in Oklahoma City while waiting for a more convincing stretch of work. Roberts said Wednesday’s appearance would factor heavily into the next decision. Díaz could rejoin Los Angeles, or remain with the Triple-A club through its remaining schedule, which includes at least six games between the end of the regular season and the Pacific Coast League Championship.
A costly season leaves postseason place unsettled
Díaz is in the opening year of a three-year, $69 million agreement with the Dodgers, but injuries and uneven results have shaped his season. He underwent April surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow, then returned to the injured list in August because of neck inflammation.
When available for Los Angeles, Díaz posted an 11.85 ERA and blew four saves in 11 opportunities. The Dodgers already planned to bring him back in lower-leverage spots rather than immediately place him in late-inning duty. Now, his very inclusion on the playoff roster is under consideration.
Roberts said the club must choose its best available pitchers based on performance and talent. The manager expects Díaz could make the group, but stressed that the club needs evidence before committing to him.
“I think he’ll be there,” Roberts said of a possible postseason berth for Díaz. “But we need to see something that gives us a reason to trust that decision.”
The bullpen picture is changing around him. Bubic, acquired at the Trade Deadline, was activated Wednesday from the 60-day injured list. The left-hander has not pitched since May 14, when he was with Kansas City, and has roughly a week and a half to show the Dodgers he belongs in their October relief mix.
Edgardo Henriquez also remains in the conversation after testing revealed a low-grade back strain. Roberts said Henriquez is still aiming to return for the postseason, and a healthy Henriquez could become a closing option amid Díaz’s uncertainty.
Roki Sasaki, who handled closing duties for the Dodgers during last year’s postseason, is working back from a blister on his right middle finger. Once he is activated from the 15-day injured list, Los Angeles must decide whether to preserve his starting build-up or shift him into a relief role for the final stretch of the season.
SEO title: Edwin Díaz Takes Small Step Forward in Dodgers Rehab Assignment
SEO description: Edwin Díaz pitched a scoreless inning for Triple-A Oklahoma City, but the Dodgers are still weighing his activation and postseason bullpen outlook.
