Do the Dodgers Have an Edwin Díaz Problem?

Mandatory Credit&colon; Anna Carrington-Imagn Images

Do the Dodgers Have an Edwin Díaz Problem?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Logan VanDine | Last updated Aug 9, 2026 10:34 AM ET

The Los Angeles Dodgers may have snapped their seven-game losing streak on Saturday night, but it was another rough outing for All-Star closer Edwin Díaz.

For the second straight night, Díaz blew a save for the Dodgers, who entered the bottom of the ninth inning with a 1-0 lead against the Arizona Diamondbacks. With no outs in the frame, the hard-throwing righty allowed back-to-back triples to Geraldo Perdomo and Corbin Carroll to tie the game. Carroll's triple ultimately sent the game into extra innings after Díaz miraculously got out of the inning after allowing just the one run.

Just the night before, Díaz served up a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to Diamondbacks rookie outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt. It was also just Waldschmidt's second career long ball.

THE DIAMONDBACKS TIE IT ON BACK-TO-BACK TRIPLES IN THE 9TH!

(via @Dbacks)pic.twitter.com/Ik0sMOSSZK
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 9, 2026

While Los Angeles was able to take the lead in the top of the tenth and get the win, Díaz's first season with the Dodgers has been a massive disappointment, with a fair argument that the Dodgers' closer role may be a lingering issue on this talented team.

Why the Dodgers Should be Concerned About Edwin Díaz

Aug 7, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin Diaz reacts after giving up a two-run walk-off home run to Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt in the ninth inning at Chase Field.Mark J&period; Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Dodgers signed Díaz to a three-year, $69 million deal in the offseason after he spent the last six seasons with the New York Mets. Díaz posted a 2.93 ERA and 144 saves across those six seasons, and won the National League Reliever of the Year Award in 2022 and 2025.

But since joining the back-to-back World Series champions, the 32-year-old's tenure with his new squad has been a disaster. Díaz was placed on the injured list on April 20 to remove loose bodies in his right elbow and missed over three months. Prior to landing on the shelf, the right-hander had a 10.50 ERA over his first seven appearances of the season.

Díaz hasn't looked much better since returning from the IL, as he's logged an ERA of 18.00 over three appearances in August thus far. Overall, the right-hander has an ERA of 10.80 in 12 games this season, converting just five out of eight save chances alongside a career-worst 2.50 WHIP in 10 innings.

It is safe to say the Dodgers have an Edwin Díaz problem. And if they want to contend for a third straight World Series title this season, Los Angeles may have to consider changing their closer's role and hope that Díaz can regain his form in low-leverage spots.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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