Dodgers to place closer Edwin Díaz back on IL: Sources

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.