The Los Angeles Dodgers‘ bullpen has been the worst relief unit in the National League for two straight weeks — and the timing couldn’t be worse. Since July 31, it carries a 4.68 ERA, the highest among all NL bullpens, and has blown 5 save opportunities, more than any other team in the majors over that same stretch. The Milwaukee Brewers, meanwhile, have passed them for the best record in MLB by two games. Every blown save is a potential home-field advantage in October slipping away.
The night it all became impossible to ignore
Thursday, August 13. Simple enough setup: ninth inning, two-run lead, Edwin Díaz on the mound. The Dodgers’ closer — the highest-paid reliever in baseball history — gave up four consecutive singles with one out and let in three runs. Alex Vesia came in to clean up the mess and surrendered a walk-off single to Jake Bauers. Final: Dodgers 4, Brewers 5.
It was Díaz’s third blown save in his last four appearances since returning from the injured list. His ERA on the season stands at 11.57 in just 12.1 innings — a staggering number when you consider that an elite closer typically sits at 2.50 or below. When manager Dave Roberts was asked whether Díaz would remain the closer, his answer said everything: «Give me another option.»
Why the bullpen is falling apart
The problem runs deeper than Díaz alone. The Dodgers are missing a long list of key arms:
- Blake Treinen, Brusdar Graterol, Will Klein and Jake Cousins are all on the injured list.
- Shohei Ohtani is unavailable to pitch due to knee and biceps discomfort.
- Starters Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow have been out for months.
The result is a relief corps working under relentless pressure. Since July 19, the Dodgers have won only two games by more than two runs — meaning every bullpen appearance has been a high-leverage situation with almost no margin for error.
Some context: this wasn’t always broken
This isn’t a bullpen that has always been a liability. For several years, LA’s relief unit was one of the team’s strengths. The collapse is recent and specific. In 2025, the bullpen finished 21st in ERA across the majors — a clear step back — and in the postseason the Dodgers had to use Roki Sasaki as an emergency closer. That’s exactly why they signed Díaz in the winter: three years, $69 million, a record average annual value for a reliever in MLB history, with an explicit mandate to never improvise in October again.
What’s actually at stake: home field, not the division
To be clear: the Dodgers hold a nine-game lead in the NL West, so the division title isn’t going anywhere. What is in play is something more valuable come October — home-field advantage in the postseason. As of August 14, the Brewers lead them by two games for the best record in MLB. If the playoffs started today, Milwaukee would host the NLCS.
The Dodgers have lost nine of their last 13 games. Their overall record of 71-48 still looks solid on paper, but the recent skid and the state of the bullpen raise legitimate questions about whether this roster — with all its star power and payroll — will arrive in October sharp enough to do what it’s built to do.
The Dodgers’ recent history says they know how to right the ship. August’s numbers say they haven’t done it yet.
