Dodgers’ Seven-Game Slide Highlights Closer Crisis

On a recent Friday night at Chase Field, the Arizona Diamondbacks rallied for a 4–3 victory after rookie Ryan Waldschmidt hit a two-run walk-off homer off Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz. The loss marked Los Angeles’ seventh consecutive defeat, the longest stretch of the season and a tie for the franchise’s longest streak since 2025.

Recap: Dodgers Losing Streak Reaches 7 Games After Edwin Diaz Blows Save On Walk-Off Homer

The Dodgers entered the 2026 campaign as defending World Series champions and retained a comfortable 7½-game lead in the National League West as of early July. A trade-deadline acquisition of two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal was intended to bolster the rotation, yet the team has not recorded a win since the deal. The bullpen has already absorbed $141 million in contracts for closers—Diaz’s three-year, $69 million deal and Tanner Scott’s four-year, $72 million agreement—both of which have underperformed.

USA Today

• Current streak: 7 games, outscored 46-25 (one source) versus 44-23 (another source).

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• Diaz performance: 11.00 ERA over 11 outings, 11 earned runs in nine innings.

They lost again! The Dodgers fall into a shocking seven-game losing streak; despite Sasaki's strong pitching, they were defeated by Arizona as Diaz blew the save.

• Team standing: 7½-game NL West lead despite a 10-16 record since early July.

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• Recent pitching: Roki Sasaki posted a 1.88 ERA over his last four starts; Blake Snell is slated to start Tuesday.

USA Today

• Offensive output: Only one extra-base hit (Andy Pages’ go-ahead homer) and a combined 2-for-16 showing from the core five hitters.

Recap: Dodgers Losing Streak Reaches 7 Games After Edwin Diaz Blows Save On Walk-Off Homer

Manager Dave Roberts emphasized that the team is not panicking and that “we’ve just got to play better.” He noted that Diaz’s fastball remains strong but the slider has been “missing right in the middle,” a problem Roberts traced to Diaz’s return from the injured list. Roberts also said there is “no clear-cut alternative” for the closer role, urging the club to keep players in the positions they have earned. Diaz himself acknowledged the slider issue, stating his fastball was “great today” but that he must improve his slider execution.

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Sources differ on the exact run differential for the seven-game stretch (46-25 vs. 44-23). No definitive alternative closer has been identified, and while minor-league options such as Ben Casparius and Seth Halvorsen have been mentioned, their readiness remains unclear. The impact of the bullpen’s high-cost contracts on future roster flexibility is not quantified in the available reports.

Bleacher Report

• “We've just got to play better,” — Dave Roberts, Dodgers manager

ESPN

• “I think the fast was great today, just you know I missed the slider right in the middle and it paid off.” — Edwin Diaz

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Tarik Skubal is scheduled to make his first start for Los Angeles on Monday, followed by Blake Snell on Tuesday. The Dodgers will attempt to halt the slide in the series finale against Arizona on Saturday at 8:10 p.m. ET, hoping that improved bullpen execution can preserve their division lead.

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