The Los Angeles Dodgers have a growing problem in the ninth inning.

Edwin Diaz was signed to a three-year, $69 million contract during the 2025-26 offseason to solidify the closer spot. He was as advertised in his first five outings, allowing only one run on two hits and three walks over five innings, recording four saves while striking out eight batters. 

This season has been a disaster for Diaz since. He allowed six runs on seven hits and two walks in one inning across two appearances before landing on the Injured List to undergo a procedure to remove loose bodies from his right elbow. Diaz has struggled again since being activated, culminating in three blown saves in the past seven days. He has an 11.57 ERA and a 2.486 WHiP over his 11.2 innings entering Friday, striking out 18 batters with eight walks.

Dodgers' quest for three-peat could be derailed by Edwin Diaz struggles

Despite those struggles, changes are not coming to the back of the Dodgers bullpen. ESPN's Alden Gonzalez reported that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he will continue to use Diaz as the closer, saying "Give me another option."

There is some precedent in letting Diaz find his footing outside of his stature as an established closer. Reliever Tanner Scott struggled in his first season with the Dodgers but has returned to form this season. However, Scott's struggles last season led Roberts to need to be creative with his bullpen in the postseason with Roki Sasaki turning into a high-leverage reliever.

The Dodgers may not have that luxury this year. While they are still the team to beat, they have uncharacteristically struggled in August, posting a 4-9 record. The Dodgers have fallen to the third-best record in the National League and would lose the first-round bye. The road to the World Series goes through LA, but if Diaz continues to struggle, that path will be a lot more difficult for the Dodgers.