Trending Now - Dodgers Proceed Cautiously With Díaz Amid Velocity Concerns
WHO:
MLB.com - Edwin Díaz, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, left-hander Alex Vesia, Blake Snell
NY Post - Edwin Díaz, Los Angeles Dodgers
WHAT:
MLB.com - Díaz has averaged 95.8 mph on his fastball in six appearances in 2026, down from 97.2 mph in 2025.
MLB.com - Roberts stated that Díaz's level of concern regarding his performance is "below moderate," indicating a low level of worry about his health.
MLB.com - Díaz has experienced a decrease in fastball velocity, averaging 95.5 mph or lower with his four-seamer in six career games (minimum five pitches).
MLB.com - Díaz stated, “I think I didn’t have my life on my fastball, and I couldn’t command my slider the way I wanted to," regarding his performance on April 7th, 2026.
MLB.com - Díaz needed 23 pitches to complete the ninth inning on April 7th, 2026.
MLB.com - Roberts mentioned that Díaz's early-season velocity drop is not uncommon, noting that five of the six outings where Díaz averaged 95.5 mph or lower occurred in March or April.
MLB.com - Díaz remarked, "After my injury in my knee, it’s been like that my last two years," referring to his velocity issues since the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
MLB.com - Roberts indicated that Díaz's availability for games is contingent on his performance during catch play, stating, "It's not an IL thing we're talking about. It's more day to day."
MLB.com - Edwin Díaz has experienced a decrease in fastball velocity, averaging 95.8 mph in six appearances in 2026, down from 97.2 mph in 2025.
MLB.com - Díaz blew his first save as a Dodger on April 7th, 2026.
MLB.com - Roberts stated that Díaz is "day to day" regarding his availability for games.
MLB.com - Díaz has averaged 95.5 mph or lower with his four-seamer in a game six times in his career.
MLB.com - Díaz's fastball velocity has averaged 96.4 mph in March/April from 2024 onwards.
MLB.com - Díaz is under a three-year, $69 million contract with the Dodgers.
MLB.com - Blake Snell is on the injured list (IL) with left shoulder fatigue.
WHERE:
MLB.com - Los Angeles, California (Dodgers' home games)
MLB.com - Dodger Stadium
WHEN:
MLB.com - Díaz's first blown save occurred on April 7th, 2026.
MLB.com - The Dodgers are monitoring Díaz's performance as of April 9th, 2026.
WHY:
MLB.com - The Dodgers are being cautious with Díaz due to his past injury history and the need to ensure he does not push himself at the expense of his health.
MLB.com - The Dodgers are being cautious with Díaz due to his past injury history and the need to ensure he does not push himself at the expense of his health, as highlighted by Roberts' comments on Blake Snell's situation.
MLB.com - The Dodgers are cautious with Díaz's usage due to concerns about his diminished fastball velocity and past injury history.
MLB.com - Roberts indicated that Díaz's early-season velocity drop is not uncommon for him.
HOW:
MLB.com - Roberts is "treading lightly" with Díaz's usage while assessing his performance and health, indicating that his availability is contingent on how he performs in catch play.
MLB.com - Roberts is "treading lightly" with Díaz's usage while assessing his performance and health.
MLB.com - Díaz's availability for games is contingent on his performance during catch play.
(UPDATED April 13, 2026 04:05 UTC)
In recent news, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has expressed a cautious approach regarding pitcher Díaz, who has seen a drop in his fastball velocity, averaging 95.8 miles per hour this season compared to 97.2 miles per hour last year. Despite this decrease, Roberts noted that Díaz's concern about his performance is "below moderate," suggesting he isn't overly worried about his health. The team is carefully monitoring Díaz's usage and will determine his availability based on his performance during catch play, given his previous injury history.
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(UPDATED April 13, 2026 01:19 UTC)
In a recent interview, Díaz reflected on his performance from on Tuesday, saying he struggled with his fastball and slider, needing 23 pitches to complete the ninth inning. He also noted that his velocity issues have persisted since his knee injury after the 2023 World Baseball Classic, a concern that has led the Dodgers to take a cautious approach with him. Manager Roberts emphasized that Díaz's availability for games will depend on how he performs during catch play, clarifying that it's a day-to-day situation rather than an injury list matter.
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(UPDATED April 12, 2026 23:06 UTC)
Edwin Díaz, the closer for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has seen a drop in his fastball velocity, averaging 95.8 miles per hour this season, down from 97.2 miles per hour last year, and he recently blew his first save as a Dodger on Tuesday. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has stated that Díaz is "day to day" regarding his availability, as the team is being cautious with his usage due to concerns about his performance and past injuries. Meanwhile, Blake Snell remains on the injured list with left shoulder fatigue, adding to the Dodgers' challenges as they navigate the early part of the season.