Edwin Diaz’s Injury Update: Positive News for Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers’ star closer Edwin Diaz is currently on the injured list for the second time this season, yet there’s good news on his condition. Despite recent struggles on the mound, an MRI revealed only neck inflammation, which manager Dave Roberts described as the ‘best case’ scenario.

“It went well,” Roberts stated, as reported by Owen Perkins of the Orange County Register. “There were no findings, so that was good. The MRI was clean. It doesn’t change the fact that he had this sensation in his neck, but keep working on it, give it some rest as far as throwing a baseball.”

Roberts further commented that Diaz is expected to be shut down for a couple of days to undergo soft tissue and manual therapies before returning to the field. This news is favorable for Diaz, who previously underwent elbow surgery this season.

The Dodgers, aiming for a historic third consecutive World Series title, made a significant move by acquiring Diaz in the offseason with a three-year, $69 million deal. However, Diaz has faced challenges recently, blowing multiple saves within a week.

Diaz has attributed his struggles to mechanical issues, potentially exacerbated by the neck inflammation. During his recovery, he expressed hope that this break could serve as an opportunity to address posture problems. Diaz explained his posture issues, noting, “I think I’m leaning too much to the right-handed hitter; instead, go straight to home plate. I think today was way better, I think I was rushing myself a bit.”

Diaz worked on correcting his arm angle and improving his posture, stating his fastball rises had improved. Roberts mentioned the injury is muscular, not affecting nerves, and Diaz hopes to adjust his posture and play without neck pain soon.