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Dodgers Reveal Why Edwin Diaz Didn’t Pitch in Narrow Win Tuesday
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2-1 win over the New York Mets Tuesday night seemed like the perfect spot for star closer Edwin Diaz.
Not only was it against Diaz’s former team, but the slim margin of victory seemed custom built for a closer like Diaz to make an emphatic statement.
But it was Alex Vesia, not Diaz, who needed only 10 pitches to strike out the side in the ninth inning.
Manager Dave Roberts said though Diaz isn’t injured as some initially worried, he was held out for precautionary purposes.
Why didn’t Edwin Diaz pitch against the Mets on Tuesday?
Katie Woo of The Athletic reports that Roberts “conferred with the training staff” on Diaz’s availability, and the trainers wanted Diaz to throw a bullpen session before returning to game activity.
He’s been out since Friday night’s blown save against the Texas Rangers.
The outing raised concerns about reduced velocity, which Diaz said is not an active injury. Rather, it’s a byproduct of the knee injury he sustained in 2023 celebrating after winning a game in the World Baseball Classic.
Diaz explained that he has suffered similar velo drops ever since, though the issue typically resolves itself as the season goes on.
“After my injury in my knee, it’s been like that my last two years,” Díaz said. “But as soon as the season starts going, I start feeling better and better and better. And my velo at the end of the year will be what I’m throwing always.”
With that bullpen session Tuesday afternoon, the Dodgers didn’t want him pitching again Tuesday night.
“He wanted to pitch tonight, which I respect and I admire,” Roberts said of Díaz, as reported by Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. “But you got to go through protocol and certain channels, and they wanted to see a bullpen.”
How did Edwin Diaz do in his bullpen session?
Roberts explained that Diaz could play on Wednesday after the team was reassured by the positive throwing session Tuesday.
“I mean, honestly, I felt it was benign from the outset, but we were going to be cautious, which we were,” Roberts said.
Do you want to see Edwin Diaz take on the Mets tonight, or would you rather he rest for a few more days?
