Dave Roberts Encouraged By Edwin Díaz’s Recent Success

The Los Angeles Dodgers finished off the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 of the National League Division Series behind a dominant effort from their pitching staff, which included Edwin Díaz recording his second save in as many days.

Tasked with protecting the Dodgers’ 4-1 lead, Díaz retired all three batters faced on just eight pitches (seven strikes). He struck out Rowdy Tellez to begin the bottom of the ninth inning and then got Mauricio Dubón and Austin Riley to fly out.

It was the latest encouraging performance from Díaz, who has looked like a completely different pitcher since returning from the 15-day injured list at the end of the regular season.

“It’s great,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Edwin Díaz recording saves in back-to-back days. “He’s had a tough season. He’s been hurt. He was having trouble with his delivery and went on a long rehab assignment. But to get him pitching the way — that’s the reason why we got him.

“The last two nights, that’s the reason why we acquired a guy like Edwin Diaz. He’s one of the great closers in the game. For him to be pitching his best right now, that’s what you hope for, and I give him a lot of credit.”

Díaz finished the month of September on a high note by throwing five consecutive scoreless innings. He carried that momentum into the NLDS and did not allow a run in three appearances against the Braves.

“I feel great,” Díaz said of his recent success. “I’m happy with what I’m doing right now. I put in a lot of work this season. I went to the IL with elbow surgery. Came back, didn’t pitch the way everybody was expecting. Went back to IL with my neck. Then I started working on those things. Those things paid off at the end of the day.

“Last week and a half of the season, I did my job. The team trusts me. I think that was the most important thing for me, the team trusts me. They give me the ball every single day. And the last two nights it’s been amazing. That’s why I came here to win games and close games like this one. So I’m really happy right now.”

Edwin Díaz keeping focus on bigger picture

Díaz was happy to help the Dodgers eliminate the Braves, but quickly shifted the focus to the upcoming NL Championship Series and the team’s quest for a third consecutive World Series title.

“It was a great win,” Díaz said. “We came here with the goal to win the series in Atlanta, and we did it. Now we go back home but we have to still work, we have to put a lot of work together. Our goal is to win the World Series, not this the series. We’ve got eight more wins to go. So our goal is win those eight games. And at the end of the day, when we win those eight games, we celebrate.

“Now we’re going back to LA, keep working. I know all the guys are on the same track. Now we just celebrate a little bit, go back to L.A., get working and be ready for Sunday.”