Dodgers bullpen built to sustain loss of Edwin Diaz

Well, the mystery is over. As many onlookers have suspected for a while now, Edwin Diaz is injured. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ All-Star closer, who inked a three-year, $69-million free-agent deal back in December, is dealing with “loose bodies” in his right elbow. As a result, the 32-year-old righty landed on the 15-day IL on Monday without a clear timetable to return.

The loss of Diaz is certainly a blow to the Dodgers, but for many bullpens around the league, it would cause panic. Not so much for Manager Dave Roberts club. 

It remains to be seen how Roberts will handle the situation in the ninth inning with Diaz officially on the shelf for a while, but the World Series-winning skipper has multiple options. Tanner Scott seems the likely first man up to try to lock down the gig. 

Who will take over as the Dodgers' closer?

Scott was an All-Star in his own right back in 2024 with the Marlins, and he nailed down 23 saves for the Dodgers last year. Some struggles and an injury interrupted the second half of his season, but Scott has bounced right back in a setup role so far this season, allowing just one run on five hits with an 8-0 K/BB ratio across 8.2 innings. 

Alex Vesia is another southpaw who has the chops and has lurked around the Dodgers’ pen for several years now. In fact, after picking up five saves each of the last two seasons, the 30-year-old has already converted a couple of chances here in 2026. Like Scott, Vesia has logged 8.2 innings so far this season and has been virtually untouchable, surrendering no runs on two hits and three walks while punching out 10.