Edwin Díaz blew his third save in four outings Wednesday night, turning a 4-2 Dodgers lead over the Brewers into a 5-4 loss in front of 46,105 fans who booed him off the mound. His 2026 ERA now sits at 9.82 — a number that stings even more when you remember he signed the richest reliever contract in MLB history last December: three years, $69 million.
After the game, the Puerto Rican right-hander didn’t dodge a single question.
What Díaz Said After the Collapse
In the Dodger Stadium clubhouse near midnight on August 13, Díaz put the decision about his role entirely in the organization’s hands. His quote made the rounds fast:
«I gotta see what they want to do. I know I’m struggling, so I want to do the best thing for our team. If they give me the ball in the ninth, I’ll try to do my job. If they give me the ball in another inning…»
What’s telling is what he didn’t say. No promises to turn it around. No mention of the elbow surgery he had in April. No asking for patience. Just a veteran who knows the ground is shifting beneath him, deferring to the team.
For context, this is a pitcher who posted a 1.63 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 28 saves with the Mets in 2025 — his third All-Star season. That kind of deference from that kind of pitcher means something.
Dave Roberts’s Answer: «Give Me Another Option»
Roberts came out swinging with a question that’s really a trap. His case for keeping Díaz in the ninth:
- Tanner Scott (ERA 2.25) is more valuable as a high-leverage weapon across multiple innings than as a traditional closer.
- Alex Vesia (ERA 2.79), Edgardo Henríquez (ERA 3.04) and Jack Dreyer (ERA 3.14) are all solid — but none separates himself clearly enough to justify an official role change.
There’s also the part Roberts didn’t say out loud: the entire bullpen is broken. Since the start of July, the Dodgers carry a 4.71 bullpen ERA — 23rd-worst in the majors. Swapping closers when the problem is systemic doesn’t fix anything; it just moves the conversation.
Why the Dodgers Are Sticking With Him — Even When It Hurts
There’s a precedent worth tracking. In May 2024, while still with the Mets, Díaz was temporarily removed from the closer role after four blown saves in a single month. He came back, steadied himself, and finished 2025 with the best numbers of his career. Roberts is betting the same pattern repeats.
The Statcast picture is mixed. Díaz is allowing a 92.1 mph average exit velocity — genuinely concerning — and hitters are barreling him at a 10.8% rate. That’s real hard contact, not just bad luck. But his fastball still sits at 96.2 mph with 2,328 RPM, ranking in the 78th percentile leaguewide. The arm isn’t broken. Something in the execution — location, sequencing, pitch mix — is.
What Comes Next for the Dodgers’ Ninth Inning
Los Angeles is in a tight race with Milwaukee for the best record in the National League. This is not a season for quiet experiments in the ninth. If Díaz doesn’t stabilize in the next two weeks, the pressure on Roberts — from inside and outside the clubhouse — will grow fast.
For now the plan holds: Díaz in the ninth, Scott as the luxury wildcard for the highest-leverage moments before it, and the rest of the bullpen filling the middle innings. It’s a bet that already cost them one game against Milwaukee.
The next test comes in a matter of days. Dodger Stadium booed its closer on Wednesday night. It’ll be watching.
The most honest thing said after the game didn’t come from the manager. It came from Díaz.
