Less than a month after he was activated off the 60-day injured list, the Los Angeles Dodgers are placing closer Edwin Díaz back on the IL, multiple team sources tell The Athletic. The specific injury has not yet been disclosed. Emmet Sheehan will be recalled from Triple A as the corresponding move and will serve as length in relief.

Díaz has struggled mightily since coming back from elbow surgery in late July. Since returning to the Dodgers, Díaz has allowed 11 earned runs on 16 hits — making for a whopping 12.91 ERA in that span.

Those woes have gotten worse as of late. Since Aug. 7, Díaz has blown three out of his five save opportunities and has allowed nine earned runs in five innings. Still, manager Dave Roberts pledged his faith in his $69 million closer over the weekend, both to reporters and privately to Díaz.

“That’s going to help with my confidence, 100 percent,” Díaz confirmed to The Athletic on Sunday. “They keep trusting me. If it was in another position, maybe they put another guy, or give me a break. But they keep trusting me and give me the ball.”

The Dodgers believe they have identified a mechanical issue with Díaz, stemming from a significantly lower arm angle than in seasons past.

It was clear Roberts was looking for low-leverage lanes to allow Díaz to work on those changes. In Monday’s win over the Rockies, Roberts brought in Díaz in for the ninth despite the Dodgers’ nine-run lead. Díaz promptly gave up three runs before inducing a game-ending flyout with two runners in scoring position. The Dodgers won 11-5, but concerns regarding Díaz overshadowed the victory.

Díaz’s IL designation comes at a time when the back-to-back champs are scuffling. The Dodgers dropped a key four-game series at home to the Milwaukee Brewers and are 6-10 in August.

They had hoped Díaz’s return would lock down the bullpen and charge them through August. Instead, the ‘pen has struggled to perform overall — and the team has followed suit.

“They are giving me the chance to keep being successful in my position. So every time they give me the ball, I’ve just got to do my job,” Díaz said. “I’ve been having a good game, (then a) bad game, good game, bad game. I have to find a way to keep pitching good.”

Now, Díaz will first need to find a way to regain his health — and the Dodgers will go back to the drawing board for how they’ll close out the ninth.

Al-Hilal in talks with Harry Kane and Ollie Watkins, Newcastle explore move for Manchester City‘s Nico Gonzalez, Sunderland move for Dayann Methalie in danger of collapsing.

Representatives for England captain Harry Kane, 33, have held talks with Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, with the Bayern Munich striker open to a move in the future. (Talksport, external)

Meanwhile Aston Villa and England striker Ollie Watkins, 29, has agreed personal terms with Al-Hilal, though the Saudi side are yet to submit a transfer offer to Villa. (Teamtalk), external

Newcastle have opened exploratory talks with Manchester City over a potential move for Spanish midfielder Nico Gonzalez, 24. (The Athletic – subscription required), external

Sunderland‘s £25.7m move for Toulouse and France Under-21 defender Dayann Methalie, 20, is in danger of collapsing after concerns were raised over his medical. (Daily Mail), external

Coventry have had an offer worth £8.5m for England midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, 30, rejected by AC Milan. (Tuttosport – in Italian), external

Real Sociedad have made an approach for West Ham and Mexico midfielder Edson Alvarez, 28, with Ajax having cooled their interest. (Sky Sports), external

Ipswich have had a second offer rejected for Bayer Leverkusen and Argentina midfielder Exequiel Palacios, 27. (Florian Plettenberg), external

Tottenham are considering a move for Paris St-Germain and Ukraine defender Illia Zabarnyi, 23, after selling Cristian Romero to Atletico Madrid. (Teamtalk), external

Liverpool and England midfielder Curtis Jones, 25, remains a top target for Inter Milan, who believe a bid of 35m euros (£29m) will be successful. (CaughtOffside, external)

Wolves have entered the race for Brighton winger Amario Cozier-Duberry, 21, with the England under-20 international remaining a target for Rangers and former loan club Bolton. (The Argus, external)

Malaga are pursuing English winger Ryan Kent, 29, who has been a free agent since leaving Seattle Sounders in January. (Fichajes – in Spanish, external)

Betfred Super League

Hull KR (14) 28

Tries: Lewis, Lawton, Hadley, Pangai Jr Goals: Martin, Mourgue 5

Warrington Wolves (10) 34

Tries: Hopoate 2, Bentley, Sipley, Byrne, Williams Goals: Irwin 5

George Williams scored his first try since returning from neck surgery to help Warrington Wolves beat defending Super League champions Hull KR and close the gap on the competition’s top two.

England half-back Williams, who spent almost four months out after sustaining the injury against Catalans Dragons in April, went over for the match-defining try in their rearranged fixture against the Robins – having returned to action just five days earlier against York.

Williams’ score came before Mikey Lewis again found himself in trouble for Hull KR, with the influential half-back – who was making his first appearance after completing a four-game ban – sin-binned for a dangerous attempt to block a kick late on.

Earlier, quickfire Lewis and Karl Lawton tries just before the break put Hull KR 14-10 ahead, after well-worked scores from Albert Hopoate and James Bentley looked to have had Wolves heading into the break with a slender lead.

Toafofoa Sipley scored immediately after the interval to reclaim the advantage for the visitors and, while Arthur Mourgue landed a penalty to level things up, an Ewan Irwin kick, Liam Byrne’s try on his 27th birthday, Williams’ finish and stunning second score from Hopoate proved enough to seal a statement win for Sam Burgess’ side.

Late scores from Dean Hadley and Tevita Pangai Jr did little more than add respectability to the scoreline for the Robins after being outplayed at home.

More to follow.

Hull KR: Mourgue; Davies, Hiku, Broadbent, Burgess; Lewis, May; Sue, Litten, Hadley, Whitbread, Martin, Minchella.

Interchanges: Amone, Luckley, Lawton, Pangai Jr.

Warrington Wolves: J Thewlis; Hopoate, Lindop, King, Ashton; Williams, Irwin; Byrne, Walker, Harrison, Bentley, Stone, Currie.

Interchanges: Tanginoa, Sipley, Wood, Crowther.

Referee: Liam Moore.