Edwin Diaz Removed from Dodgers Closer Role After Injury and Struggles

Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Edwin Diaz has been placed on the injured list with a neck injury and, according to manager Dave Roberts, will not resume the team's closer duties when he returns. The Dodgers have indicated that Tanner Scott is expected to assume the closing role for the remainder of the season.

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The Dodgers signed Diaz, the defending two-time National League Reliever of the Year, with the explicit intention that he serve as the club’s closer. An early-season elbow injury followed by on-field difficulties prompted a reassessment of that plan.

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Roberts explained that the club intends to use Diaz in “softer-landing situations” to rebuild his confidence and allow him to regain his command before any postseason considerations.

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• Diaz’s season line: 11.85 ERA (career-worst), 7 saves out of 11 opportunities in 16 appearances.

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• Scott’s season line: 4.74 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 57 innings pitched.

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• “I think it’s more of getting him back healthy and then putting him in some softer-landing situations to get the confidence, to get the feel and the trust of executing pitches, getting major-league hitters out and then at that point in time we’ll go from there,” — Dave Roberts, dodgers manager

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• “Yeah, because that's why they signed me here to be the closer,” — Edwin Diaz

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