Edwin Diaz’s Injury Update: Dodgers Receive Positive News

Los Angeles Dodgers’ star closer Edwin Diaz has been placed on the injured list for the second time this season. Despite his recent struggles on the mound, the team received some positive news regarding his condition.

An MRI conducted on Wednesday revealed no issues other than Diaz’s initial neck inflammation. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts described this outcome as the “best case” scenario for what could have been discovered.

“It went well,” Roberts told 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.”

“It was the best-case scenario,” Roberts continued. “It’s probably going to be a couple days of Diaz being shut down, then he’ll do some soft tissue treatment and manual exercises to get back in shape. Again, best-case scenario.”

Diaz had undergone elbow surgery earlier this season to remove loose bodies. The diagnosis suggests he may still return this season. He was a significant offseason acquisition for the Dodgers, signing a three-year, $69 million contract to enhance the team’s pitching lineup. Despite this, Diaz has faced recent difficulties, blowing several saves within a week.

Diaz attributed his issues on the mound to mechanical problems. If the neck inflammation is the source, this break could be advantageous for the team over time. He commented on his condition, stating, “my posture” was the issue.

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 explained.

They told me that my arm angle was a little low, so I was trying to work on that today. My posture is the main focus; I think today was better. My fastball rise was way better than yesterday.

Roberts clarified that Diaz’s injury is muscular and not nerve-related. If Diaz can correct his posture, he might play without neck pain soon.