The Los Angeles Dodgers placed right-handed pitcher Edwin Díaz on the injured list because of right elbow loose bodies, a move that came after his difficult outing against the Rockies. Left-handed pitcher Jake Eder was recalled in a corresponding roster move.
Díaz, 32, struggled on Sunday and did not record an out while allowing three runs. His fastball velocity also drew attention, especially because the drop was more pronounced than usual for a pitcher whose velocity has been one of his defining traits.
Díaz’s season has been uneven
Through seven appearances this season, Díaz has gone 1-0 with a 10.50 ERA. That is a sharp contrast with his long track record, which includes a 2.91 ERA over 527 career games.
The veteran reliever has built a standout résumé over 10 seasons, with 257 saves in 300 chances and 849 strikeouts. He is also a three-time All-Star, and his career production has made him one of the more established late-inning arms in the game.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the Colorado game that the evaluation was concerning. “Today was a tough evaluation,” Roberts said. “I know what it’s supposed to look like, and when it doesn’t look like that, it gets a little concerning, really. So, I’ll have a conversation with him.”
Velocity drop raised questions
Díaz’s four-seam fastball has averaged between 97.2 and 99.1 mph over the last four seasons, but that number had dipped to 95.7 mph this season. On Sunday, it went as low as 92.8 mph at Coors Field, a level he rarely reaches.
The reference point was striking because he has thrown only six slower fastballs in his entire career. For a pitcher whose effectiveness depends heavily on power and command, the velocity loss added urgency to the Dodgers’ decision.
Jake Eder gets another opportunity
Eder, 27, joined the Dodgers from the Nationals on April 1 for cash considerations. He has made three appearances for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season, allowing two runs over 5.1 innings.
He also spent time with the Los Angeles Angels in 2025, where he went 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in 18.1 innings across eight appearances. Before that, he made his major league debut on September 17, 2024 with the Chicago White Sox, giving up one run in two innings.
A former Vanderbilt pitcher, Eder was selected in the fourth round of the 2020 First Year Player Draft by the Miami Marlins. In his minor league career, he has appeared in 72 games, posting a 10-29 record with a 5.35 ERA and 356 strikeouts in 312.2 innings.
Roster depth becomes important
With Díaz sidelined, the Dodgers lose a proven veteran reliever while they wait for more clarity on the elbow issue. The club now turns to Eder as part of the immediate response, while Díaz’s recent dip in velocity and Sunday’s outing remain central to the concern around his status.
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