Dodgers’ Edwin Diaz Likely to Pitch Against Mets After Injury Concerns

Los Angeles Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz might end up pitching against his former team after all.

It was soon revealed, though, that it was Ben Casparius, not Diaz, who was hurt.

What’s Wrong With Edwin Diaz?

The Athletic‘s Fabian Ardaya reports that at least some of the confusion about a possible injury came about when Diaz said something “didn’t feel right” after Friday’s performance, but manager Dave Roberts confirmed Diaz feels better and passed manual testing.
“Dave Roberts added that Edwin Díaz ‘wants to pitch,'” Ardaya wrote on social media ahead of Monday’s series-opening game with the Mets.

“His availability tonight depends on what Roberts hears from the training staff, but Roberts expects Díaz to pitch this series.”
Diaz explained that his velocity reduction is something he believes is related to an old injury, the 2023 patellar tendon rupture he suffered during the World Baseball Classic.

“After my injury in my knee, it’s been like that my last two years,” Díaz said.

“But as soon as the season starts going, I start feeling better and better and better.

And my velo at the end of the year will be what I’m throwing always.”

How Has Edwin Diaz Played for the Dodgers?

The Dodgers signed Diaz to a three-year, $69 million deal during the offseason, and before Friday, Diaz was living up to the high expectations that come with such a large contract.

On Friday, though, four hits, three earned runs and a walk left Diaz with a 6.00 ERA for the year and a WHIP of 1.667.

To be fair, he’s only pitched six innings in six games, but in the previous five, he’d only given up two hits and one earned run.

Even after Friday’s game, Diaz remains elite in some categories.

He’s striking out more than a third of the batters he faces, putting him in the 91st percentile of pitchers.

He is walking nearly 14% of batters, though, which is only the 22nd percentile.