Dodgers Get ‘Best-Case Scenario’ From Edwin Diaz MRI

Los Angeles Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz underwent an MRI on Wednesday while his team was in Colorado for a series against the Rockies. Diaz had been sidelined with neck inflammation following a series of struggles in his pitching, including command issues and lack of movement on his pitches. On August 18, Diaz surrendered four hits and three runs after entering the game in the ninth inning of an 11-2 loss.

Diaz had recently returned from elbow surgery, which had kept him out of action for three months. Despite his current issues, manager Dave Roberts decided to keep Diaz on the roster, pending an MRI report on Monday night. As a result, the Dodgers placed Diaz on the injured list for at least two weeks, allowing him to rest and work on his mechanics.

Manager Roberts expressed optimism about Diaz's MRI results, stating they indicated a "best-case" scenario, suggesting the issue may be more related to wear than any underlying damage. The Dodgers plan to give Diaz a few days of rest, pause his throwing, and then assess his condition. To improve, Diaz needs to take more time between pitches, maintain proper mechanics, and improve the movement on his slider.

Diaz acknowledged that his posture and rushing during delivery contributed to his struggles and plans to address these issues during his rehabilitation.