Edwin Díaz Fighting to Earn Spot in Dodgers Postseason Bullpen

Edwin Díaz’s place in the Dodgers’ postseason bullpen is no longer guaranteed.

Díaz will receive another opportunity during his Triple-A rehab assignment Wednesday, but Dave Roberts made it clear that reputation alone will not secure him a spot in October.

“We have to go with our best pitchers, as far as performance, talent, all that stuff,” Roberts said Monday. “So my bet is that he will be. But there’s got to be some kind of evidence or something for us to sort of bet on.”

That distinction is important.

Roberts still believes Díaz can make the postseason roster. The Dodgers have not decided to leave him off.

But Díaz must show them something before they commit.

Sunday’s Rehab Outing Raised More Questions

Díaz began his Triple-A rehab assignment on Sept. 6 while working his way back from neck inflammation.

His first three appearances included two scoreless outings, but his command remained inconsistent. Those concerns became significantly more serious Sunday.

Díaz faced eight batters and recorded only two outs. He allowed two singles, walked three, hit another batter and struck out one.

Three runs scored before Díaz left the game, and two of the three runners he left on base also came around to score.

Only 13 of his 30 pitches were strikes.

The appearance left Díaz with six runs allowed, seven walks, four strikeouts and one hit batter over 3⅓ innings during his first four rehab outings.

Díaz has thrown 86 pitches during the assignment, with 46 balls and 40 strikes. Sunday marked the third time in four appearances that he threw more balls than strikes.

For a Dodgers team attempting to identify reliable postseason relievers, the results have not been good enough.

Roberts Wants More Than Díaz’s Track Record

Díaz’s career accomplishments remain part of the evaluation.

He is a three-time All-Star with extensive closing experience, and the Dodgers signed him because of the dominance he demonstrated before arriving in Los Angeles.

However, Roberts acknowledged that Díaz’s past cannot be the only reason the Dodgers place him on their postseason roster.

“I think the world of him. The baseball card looks great,” Roberts said. “But where we’re at, there’s got to be something for us to be able to hang our hat on. And he knows that.”

Díaz has appeared in 16 Major League games this season, recording seven saves in 11 opportunities with an 11.85 ERA.

His season has been interrupted twice. Díaz initially missed time while recovering from right-elbow surgery before returning in July. He went back on the injured list with neck inflammation on Aug. 18.

The Dodgers sent him to Oklahoma City in early September hoping he could regain his command and build momentum before the postseason.

That has not happened consistently.

Wednesday Becomes an Important Test

Díaz’s next rehab appearance is scheduled for Wednesday.

Roberts said the Dodgers will be watching closely, but Wednesday should not be framed as an official final chance. The team has not announced a deadline for activating Díaz or deciding his postseason status.

Still, there are fewer than two weeks remaining in the regular season.

Díaz needs to demonstrate that he can throw strikes, control his pitch count and retire Triple-A hitters before the Dodgers can comfortably trust him against postseason lineups.

“He knows that. He wants to pitch well,” Roberts said. “So for me, Wednesday, we’ll be watching closely.”

A strong appearance would not automatically secure Díaz’s postseason role, but it would give the Dodgers some of the evidence Roberts said they need.

Another outing filled with walks and command problems would make the decision more difficult.

Dodgers Have Other Bullpen Options

The uncertainty surrounding Díaz comes as the Dodgers continue evaluating several potential postseason relievers.

Tanner Scott remains Roberts’ preferred option in save situations. Alex Vesia, Evan Phillips, Brock Stewart, Jack Dreyer and Blake Treinen also have experience pitching in the later innings.

Los Angeles could soon add Kris Bubic, who completed six scoreless Triple-A rehab appearances and joined the Dodgers in Cincinnati. The team is preparing Bubic to pitch in relief.

Roki Sasaki could also factor into the bullpen discussion depending on how the Dodgers handle his return from a right middle-finger blister.

At the same time, Edgardo Henriquez’s back injury removed one of the team’s most productive relievers from the remainder of the regular season. His availability for October remains uncertain.

Those moving pieces give Díaz an opportunity, but they do not guarantee him a place.

Díaz Still Has Time to Change the Conversation

The Dodgers have not given up on Díaz.

Roberts said his expectation is still that Díaz will make the postseason roster. But that belief now comes with an unmistakable condition: Díaz must pitch better.

The Dodgers cannot construct their October bullpen based solely on career numbers, contract value or name recognition. They need pitchers who are healthy, throwing strikes and capable of recording important outs immediately.

Díaz will get another chance to prove he belongs Wednesday.

His postseason roster spot remains possible—but for the first time, it must be earned rather than assumed.