Edwin Díaz Completes Back-to-Back Rehab Test, Nears Dodgers Return

Edwin Díaz has cleared one of the biggest remaining hurdles in his return to the Dodgers bullpen.

Díaz pitched a scoreless inning for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday night, completing his scheduled back-to-back rehab test after also appearing Wednesday.

The right-hander allowed one hit and one walk while striking out one. He threw 18 pitches, 10 for strikes, in his third appearance of the current rehab assignment.

If Díaz’s neck responds well after working on consecutive days, he could potentially rejoin the Dodgers as early as Sunday in Miami. MLB’s injury tracker has listed Sept. 13 as his earliest expected return.

That would end his latest injured-list stint after nearly a month away.

Back-to-Back Test Was the Important Part

Thursday’s box score mattered, but the larger objective was determining whether Díaz could physically handle pitching on consecutive days.

That is an important requirement for any reliever the Dodgers might rely on in September and October.

His first half of the test Wednesday was less clean.

Díaz recorded only two outs while allowing one run and two walks with one strikeout, needing 22 pitches, just 10 for strikes.

The results improved Thursday.

More importantly, he was able to take the mound again roughly 24 hours later and complete a full inning without allowing a run.

The Dodgers can now evaluate how his neck feels Friday before determining whether the rehab assignment has accomplished what they needed.

There Were Some Encouraging Signs Thursday

Díaz’s velocity still has not completely returned to the level that made him one of baseball’s most overpowering relievers, but his secondary pitch showed encouraging life.

His fastball averaged 96.1 mph Thursday and reached 97.9 mph. He threw nine fastballs and nine sliders.

The slider generated four swings and misses, including the strikeout.

That is notable because missing bats has been one of Díaz’s biggest problems this season.

His slider whiff rate has fallen from 44 percent in 2025 to 27.5 percent this year, while his fastball velocity and arm angle have also declined. The Dodgers have spent much of his rehab work trying to help him raise his arm slot and regain the shape that previously made both pitches so effective.

Thursday did not prove those issues are completely fixed.

It did offer another encouraging step.

Díaz Has Endured a Difficult First Season With Dodgers

Los Angeles signed Díaz to a three-year, $69 million contract during the offseason expecting him to anchor the ninth inning.

Almost nothing has gone according to plan.

He underwent surgery in April to remove loose bodies from his right elbow and missed roughly three months before returning in late July.

His performance remained inconsistent after being activated.

Díaz has a 11.85 ERA across 16 Major League appearances this season, with four blown saves in 11 opportunities.

He returned to the injured list Aug. 18 with inflammation on the right side of his neck.

The Dodgers did not immediately send him back out on another rehab assignment. Díaz spent time working on his mechanics before beginning his latest stint with Oklahoma City on Sept. 6.

His first appearance was a scoreless inning with one walk and one strikeout.

Wednesday and Thursday then provided the consecutive-day workload Los Angeles wanted to see.

Díaz Won’t Immediately Return as Closer

Even if Díaz is activated Sunday, Dodgers fans should not expect him to immediately take over the ninth inning.

Dave Roberts has already made that clear.

The Dodgers intend to use Díaz in what Roberts called “softer landing situations” when he initially returns. The idea is to allow him to regain confidence, continue correcting his mechanics and prove he can consistently execute pitches against Major League hitters before asking him to handle the highest-leverage innings.

That represents a significant change from Díaz’s first activation in July.

At that time, Los Angeles quickly returned him to closing duties.

This time, the Dodgers are taking a more deliberate approach.

Tanner Scott has received most of the save opportunities while Díaz has been sidelined and is expected to remain the primary ninth-inning option when Díaz first returns.

Dodgers Still Have Time to Find Out What Díaz Can Give Them

The Dodgers do not need Díaz to immediately become the dominant closer he was during his best seasons.

They need him to become a dependable reliever.

With only a few weeks remaining before the postseason, there is still enough time for Los Angeles to give Díaz several lower-leverage appearances and determine whether his stuff and command are trending in the right direction.

If they are, Roberts can gradually increase his responsibilities.

If Díaz eventually works his way back into late-inning situations, that would give the Dodgers another experienced high-upside arm alongside Scott and the rest of a deep bullpen.

But that conversation comes later.

For now, the biggest development is much simpler.

Díaz successfully pitched on consecutive days.

His second outing was scoreless.

And if his neck feels good after Thursday’s work, Sunday in Miami could mark the beginning of his latest attempt to turn around a difficult first season with the Dodgers.