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For many teams, losing their closer for several months would be a devastating hit to their bullpen. While it certainly is a big blow for the Dodgers to be without Edwin Díaz until after the All-Star break following a procedure to remove loose bodies from his right elbow on Wednesday, they are arguably in a better position to weather his loss than the majority of the other 29 teams would be in a similar situation. Still, not having Díaz will be a big test for the Dodgers' bullpen, which looked to be rebounding as a unit following a rough 2025 season. Many L.A. relievers have attributed at least part of their early success as a group to Díaz anchoring the ninth inning in the first season of a three-year, $69 million contract. Here's a look at some of the biggest questions facing the Dodgers while Díaz is sidelined: |
1. How will the Dodgers approach save situations? The Dodgers will take a closer-by-committee approach to the ninth inning, but manager Dave Roberts acknowledged that left-hander Tanner Scott is likely to get more save opportunities than other relievers. Scott, who's in the second season of a four-year, $72 million contract, has looked much better than he did as the Dodgers' de facto closer last year, when he posted a 4.74 ERA with an MLB-worst 10 blown saves in 61 appearances. Through his first 11 outings in 2026, he has allowed just one earned run in 9 2/3 innings (0.93 ERA). “I think there’s real confidence," Roberts said. "I think that there’s better sequencing. I think he is moving the ball around a lot better than he was last year.” When Díaz was active, having him reserved for save opportunities allowed Scott to pitch in more favorable situations, which has also likely contributed to his early success. Because the Dodgers are playing matchups in the ninth inning, Scott should still be able to pitch in favorable lanes. Right-hander Blake Treinen and left-hander Alex Vesia should also figure into save situations, although Vesia is most valuable in his fireman role. |
2. Could Roki Sasaki return to the closer's role? The answer is a resounding no. Sasaki shifting to relief last postseason was more of a "break glass in case of emergency" situation than anything else, and though he has scuffled as a starter, he is not going back to the 'pen anytime soon. Roberts has said that when Blake Snell returns from his season-opening injured list stint -- which should be around the end of May -- Sasaki will still be a starter. He did not say that Sasaki will still be a starter for the Dodgers; that should depend on how Sasaki performs in the meantime. If the Dodgers find themselves in a similar situation to last year when the postseason rolls around, only then might Sasaki shift to relief. But that is months away, and a lot can happen in that span. |
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3. How does Díaz's absence affect the rest of the bullpen? Last year, the Dodgers found themselves lacking right-handed relievers who were tough on right-handed hitters. Treinen, like Scott, has seemed to bounce back early this season and has helped the team in that regard. But if Treinen is needed for certain save situations, then that leaves the Dodgers searching for another right-on-right weapon on the bridge to the ninth inning. In the short term, that gives Will Klein, Edgardo Henriquez and Kyle Hurt an opportunity to prove they can be the right-handed leverage arm that the Dodgers need. "It is an opportunity for the guys to be guys that can really manage and handle -- and not just manage, but dominate -- right-handed hitters," Roberts said. "Guys right now are gonna have an opportunity. But it is nice right now knowing we got Brock Stewart coming, and Evan [Phillips] is coming. [Brusdar] Graterol is on the come." |
4. What's the latest on the other injured relievers? In the long term, as Roberts alluded to, the Dodgers are getting reinforcements. Among injured Dodgers relievers, Stewart (right shoulder surgery) is the closest to returning. He is currently on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he should spend a few more weeks before being a legitimate option for the Dodgers. Graterol (right shoulder surgery) and Phillips (Tommy John surgery) are farther behind. Both are working through mound progressions and are likely to return closer to the second half. Until then, the Dodgers will have to piece things together with the arms they have. |
When the Dodgers returned to Toronto for a World Series rematch earlier this month, Will Klein pitched two scoreless innings at Rogers Centre -- and ripped some packs of Pokémon cards on the field in a video that got its fair share of attention on social media. Not long after, 44 Pro, the company from whom he's gotten his gloves throughout his professional career, reached out to ask Klein which Pokémon was his favorite. Klein answered them, but had no idea that he would be receiving a custom glove with a sleeved Tyranitar card over the webbing. "I was like, 'Oh my God, this is the craziest, coolest thing I've ever seen," Klein said. Klein was a big Pokémon fan growing up, and he's gotten back into collecting cards with his wife, Carson, in recent years. He likes stopping by card shops when he has time on the road and going to card shows in the offseason as he expands his collection. Many have wondered whether Klein will use the Pokémon glove in a game. Not only is he unsure if it's game-legal, but he's concerned that using the glove might damage the card. So instead, he's finding the right place for his custom glove, deciding whether it makes more sense to display it alongside his baseball memorabilia or his card collection. "I have no idea yet," he said. "It's kind of the best of both worlds." |
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