Edwin

Díaz

This was probably Díaz’s best showing yet. He matched his season high from last week by averaging 97.6 mph with his fastball. He’s at 97.3 mph in four appearances since coming off the IL, which is one mph better than he averaged previously this year.

Expectations are low for Díaz at the moment, but he was sharp tonight in throwing 12 of his 17 pitches for strikes while pitching with a six-run lead. He averaged 97.6 mph with his fastball, with his 1.3 mph better than his season norm, and he lowered his ERA from 11.85 to 11.05.

As anticipated, Díaz returns to the Dodgers’ bullpen for Friday night’s battle against the Giants. The expectation is that the Dodgers will ease him back into high-leverage situations, so fantasy managers shouldn’t expect him to be a viable option for saves over the final 10 days of the regular season. Landon Knack was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City in a corresponding move on Friday.

Díaz was placed on the injured list on August 18th with neck inflammation. His minor league rehab assignment has been a mixed bag, with a couple of poor outings last week and then a scoreless inning on Wednesday night. The Dodgers want the 32-year-old to get MLB innings before the postseason begins, but he will have to pitch his way back into the ninth-inning role, which means Tanner Scott will remain the closer for the time being.

Díaz gave up a double to a rehabbing Miguel Andujar, but managed to fire a much-needed scoreless frame. The 32-year-old isn’t a lock for the Dodgers’ postseason roster, but it would be a surprise if he were left off altogether. There’s a chance he’s activated before the end of the week.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters they’ll be watching Díaz’s performance closely to determine whether he can return as part of their postseason bullpen. The results simply haven’t been there for Los Angeles to pencil his name onto their playoff roster, but they’re going to give him a chance to earn a spot over the next two weeks.

Scott inherited a 4-2 lead to begin the ninth inning, but Xavier Edwards and Jacob Marsee reached on singles to begin the frame before Javier Sanoja brought them home with a two-run double. The southpaw was replaced by Brock Stewart, who gave up the go-ahead two-run homer to Agustín Ramírez. For Scott, this was his second blown save of the month. He had just two blown saves for the year coming into the month. Edwin Díaz struggled Sunday in a rehab appearances, so Scott has some leash left for save chances.

If all goes well in his next outing, it sounds like the Dodgers will be ready to activate the 32-year-old hurler off of the injured list. What remains to be seen is if he is thrust right back into a high-leverage role in the Dodgers’ bullpen or if they’ll gradually ease him back into it.

Díaz is slated to make back-to-back appearances for Triple-A Oklahoma City this week before he’s potentially activated from the injured list. The 32-year-old former elite closer has been on the shelf with neck inflammation since late August. It feels highly unlikely that he’ll be thrust into high-leverage spots for the Dodgers right away.

Díaz, rehabbing from neck inflammation, averaged 96.0 mph with his fastball, which is close to his average of 96.3 mph for the season. He walked one, and neither ball in play against him was hit hard. The Dodgers haven’t indicated how many rehab appearances they think Díaz will require. He’s expected to return in a lower leverage role initially.