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Dodgers have Edwin Diaz concerns going into Mets series

April 14, 2026

LOS ANGELES — The week has been circled on the calendar from coast to coast ever since Edwin Diaz signed a free-agent deal with the Dodgers and now that a matchup with his former team has arrived there is no certainty that he will pitch.

The former New York Mets closer just might end up facing his previous club, with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts saying it will happen “if the right situation pops up.”

Whether that means a save situation, or something less taxing remains to be seen.

The Dodgers are tracking Diaz’s April dip in velocity, but as far as what is exactly bothering the right-hander, it remains vague. Roberts has mentioned the knee tendon injury that cost Diaz a full season, but that was in 2023.

“I talked to Edwin briefly, just a little bit ago, and he feels great, which is a good thing,” Roberts said some three hours before Monday’s series opener against the Mets. “I think now it goes to me having a conversation with the training staff.”

As of now, the Dodgers do not sound as if they are leaning toward a stint on the injured list.

“He’s wanting to pitch, says he’s available,” Roberts said. “I think now it’s just me kind of consulting with the training staff and figuring out what’s the best case (scenario). But just watching with my eyes and have him playing catch, talking to him, we feel very confident that he’s in a good spot.”

Diaz’s fastball has averaged 95.8 mph this month, his first with the Dodgers after signing a three-year, $69 million contract in December. The average of $23.3 million per season is a record for a reliever.

One high payroll team coaxing away an elite performer from another free spender made for a delicious side dish to this week’s three-game series and the plot has only thickened.

“So if he feels good, then the expectation is that the velocity will mirror that,” Roberts said.

The Dodgers’ medical staff has examined Diaz, but no imaging, MRI or otherwise, has been scheduled, according to Roberts.

“(It was) just kind of (him) saying he just didn’t feel right,” Roberts said. “And (it was) talking about some of the things before, the track record, the knee and all that stuff. So I’d like to think that’s behind us. But that was more the genesis behind (the concern).”

At this point of the season, and with an off day coming Thursday, Roberts was not too concerned about having a reliever whose status was day-to-day.

“I think certainly this is a good time as far as just playing six in a row and having bookend off days,” who has suggested that whatever is bothering Diaz is not serious. “You’d like to think that our starters going forward can give us some length and stuff like that.

“Maybe a few days ago, a couple days ago (it would have been an issue), but I think right now where he’s at, I think we’re in a good spot.”

Diaz has four saves over his first six appearances with the Dodgers, but his ERA is at 6.00 and he blew a save opportunity against the Texas Rangers on Friday when he gave up three runs on four hits and a walk in an inning of work.

He had 144 saves in six seasons with the Mets, along with a 2.93 ERA in 332 relief appearances for the club. He has 257 saves and a 2.86 ERA over his 10 major league seasons, while also pitching for the Seattle Mariners (2016-18).

HURT’S LOCKER

Right-hander Kyle Hurt was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City, while right-hander Ben Casparius was placed on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation.

Hurt, who underwent Tommy John surgery in July of 2024, has just four major league appearances to his credit with six strikeouts in 8⅔ innings. His next major league appearance will be his first since April of 2024.

“Kyle, we see him as a neutral guy, gets left out, gets right out, can do an up down,” Roberts said. “I’m excited to have Kyle back here.”

Casparius had a 9.64 ERA over his first five appearances this season and gave up two runs with two hits and two walks in one inning against the Rangers on Sunday.

After Sunday’s outing, Casparius underwent testing with the medical staff and was scheduled for an MRI on Monday.

SCHEDULE TRACKING

Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to pitch in Wednesday’s series finale against the Mets – just his third start of the season. By comparison, right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto will make his fourth start Tuesday.

It is the second time Ohtani will make a start that butts up against an off day, with the Dodgers not scheduled to play Thursday in advance of a four-game series in Colorado that ends Monday.

After Thursday, the Dodgers won’t have another off day until April 30, putting them on the field for 13 consecutive days.

Ohtani pitched 67⅓ innings last season, playoffs included, in his return from Tommy John revision surgery. The club has not said how much further beyond that innings total it will be willing to go this season.

UP NEXT

Mets (RHP Nolan McLean, 1-1, 2.70 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 2-1, 2.50 ERA), Tuesday, 7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM

Orange County Register

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Dodgers have Edwin Diaz concerns going into Mets series

HURT’S LOCKER

SCHEDULE TRACKING

UP NEXT

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