The Los Angeles Dodgers have been dealt a devastating blow to their World Series aspirations as closer Edwin Diaz is set to undergo elbow surgery, leaving the defending champions scrambling for answers in the ninth inning less than a month into the season. Imaging revealed loose bodies in Diaz’s elbow, a structural issue far more serious than the fatigue or soreness the team initially feared, and the procedure will sideline him for at least three months. The news sends shockwaves through a bullpen that was built around Diaz as the anchor, and now manager Dave Roberts faces a crisis that could define the next several months of the season.
Diaz, who signed a three-year, $69 million contract in the offseason, was expected to be the lockdown closer the Dodgers needed to secure another championship run. His first four save opportunities were rock solid, with a perfect 4-for-4 record, but a troubling outing in Colorado 10 days ago raised red flags when he failed to record a single out and allowed three runs on four batters. Two days later at Coors Field, the wheels came off completely, and now the team is left wondering if they will ever see the dominant version of Diaz again this year.
The surgery is scheduled for this week, and the team has announced a projected return in the second half of the season, but that timeline is far from certain. Rehab for this type of procedure typically takes around three months, but ramping back up to game speed and regaining the trust in his arm are entirely different challenges. The Dodgers could be looking at a mid-July or even August return, and even then, there is no guarantee Diaz will be the same pitcher who posted a 1.63 ERA and won Reliever of the Year honors last season.
This injury continues a troubling pattern for Diaz, who has alternated between brilliance and inconsistency throughout his career. After a dominant 2018 season with a 1.96 ERA and 57 saves for the Mariners, he struggled to a nearly 6.00 ERA with the Mets in 2019. He rebounded in 2022 with a 1.31 ERA but missed all of 2023 after a devastating knee injury during the World Baseball Classic. Last season was a mixed bag with a 3.52 ERA, but he bounced back in 2024 with a 1.63 ERA before this elbow issue derailed everything.
The Dodgers now face a bullpen identity crisis that threatens to unravel their carefully constructed pitching plan. Tanner Scott, Blake Treinen, and Alex Vesia are the most obvious candidates to step into the closer role, but each option comes with significant risks. Scott has been effective in setup duties, but moving him to the ninth inning weakens the eighth inning bridge. Treinen has experience closing games but has battled injuries in recent years. Vesia has been a versatile weapon but has never been a full-time closer.
The ripple effect of losing Diaz cannot be overstated. If Scott moves to closer, the eighth inning falls to Treinen, and the seventh inning becomes a question mark. The entire bullpen hierarchy must be reshuffled, and that adjustment period could cost the Dodgers games in a division where every win matters. The team has depth, but no one on the roster can replicate what Diaz brought to the table as one of the most dominant closers in baseball.
Rookie sensation Roki Sasaki has been floated as a potential solution, given his success in a bullpen role last September and October, but the Dodgers have been adamant that they view him as a starter. Justin Rubelski has cemented his place in the rotation with three consecutive strong starts, making it less likely that Sasaki will be moved to the bullpen. The front office is now forced to consider trade options, but the Dodgers have historically been reluctant to deal for high-end relievers at the deadline.
The timing of this injury is particularly cruel for Diaz, who finally joined a team poised to compete for a World Series after years of struggling with the Mets. He barely got started before being shut down again, and the emotional toll on the pitcher and the clubhouse cannot be ignored. The Dodgers have weathered injuries before, losing Mookie Betts for a stretch and dealing with Blake Snell starting the season on the IL, but this feels different because it strikes at the heart of their late-inning strategy.
The Ohtani rule has also sparked a firestorm of controversy, with Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell calling it bizarre and unfair from a roster construction standpoint. The rule allows true two-way players like Shohei Ohtani to hit and pitch without counting as a traditional pitcher on the active roster, effectively giving the Dodgers an extra roster spot for a pitcher. Counsell argued that this creates a competitive imbalance that other teams cannot replicate, and his comments have reignited a debate that has simmered since Ohtani joined the Dodgers.
Dave Roberts fired back, calling Ohtani an exceptional player who deserves an exception, and the logic is hard to dispute. The rule was implemented when Ohtani was with the Angels, a team that was not competitive, and it barely registered as a controversy. Now that he is on the Dodgers and winning, the complaints have grown louder, but the reality is that no other player in baseball history has been able to do what Ohtani does. The rule exists because he is a unicorn, and the sport is better for it.
Ohtani continues to rewrite Dodgers history, extending his on-base streak to 52 games, just one shy of tying Shawn Green’s 53-game streak from 2000. The Dodgers record belongs to Duke Snider, who reached base in 58 consecutive games in 1954, and Ohtani seems destined to chase that mark. When pitchers challenge him, he hits, and when they pitch around him, he walks, making him nearly impossible to keep off the bases. His consistency is staggering, and it adds another layer to the Dodgers offensive dominance.
At the plate, the Dodgers are thriving despite missing key players, with Max Muncy leading the club with eight home runs after a two-homer performance at Coors Field. Muncy is two months ahead of his pace from last season, and his power surge has been a critical factor in the team’s success. Miguel Rojas joined the party with his 1,000th career hit, a milestone that underscores his value as a veteran leader and reliable contributor. Dalton Rushing crushed two home runs, continuing his torrid start and forcing the Dodgers to find a way to get him regular at-bats.
Rushing’s emergence has created a good problem for the Dodgers, as they must figure out where to play him with a crowded roster. Left field seems the most logical option, even though Rushing struggled there in limited opportunities before. Teoscar Hernandez is not a Gold Glove defender, so the drop-off might be minimal, and Rushing’s bat is too hot to keep on the bench. The team could also explore trade options, as Rushing’s value has never been higher, but moving a top prospect is always a gamble.
Justin Rubelski continues to impress, delivering seven strong innings with eight hits but only one run allowed against the Rockies. He has walked just four batters in 20 innings as a starter, with all of those walks coming in his first start against Toronto. Rubelski has cemented his place in the rotation, and his ability to attack hitters without fear of contact has made him a reliable option. The Dodgers now have a surplus of starting pitching, and the decision of who to move to the bullpen or trade will be a difficult one.
The bullpen crisis and the Ohtani rule debate are two sides of the same coin for the Dodgers, highlighting both their incredible depth and the unique advantages they enjoy. Losing Diaz is a major setback, but the team has the resources to adapt, whether through internal options or trades. The Ohtani rule will continue to be a point of contention, but the Dodgers are simply benefiting from having a once-in-a-generation talent on their roster. For now, the focus is on finding a way to close out games and keep the season on track.
The Dodgers are set to begin a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants, and all eyes will be on how Roberts handles the ninth inning. The bullpen will be tested, and the answers will come over the coming weeks as the team adjusts to life without Diaz. The season is far from over, but this is the first real bump in the road for a team that has looked nearly unstoppable. The next few months will define whether the Dodgers can overcome this adversity or if it will be the crack that derails their championship hopes.
