Dodgers Reveal Why Edwin Diaz Didn’t Pitch in Narrow Win Tuesday
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained by Edwin Diaz hasn't yet pitched against his old team.
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2-1 win over the New York Mets Tuesday night seemed like the perfect spot for star closer Edwin Diaz. Not only was it against Diaz’s former team , but the slim margin of victory seemed custom built for a closer like Diaz to make an emphatic statement. Mar 31, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin Diaz (3) throws against the Cleveland Guardians during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images But it was Alex Vesia, not Diaz, who needed only 10 pitches to strike out the side in the ninth inning. Manager Dave Roberts said though Diaz isn’t injured as some initially worried , he was held out for precautionary purposes.
Why didn’t Edwin Diaz pitch against the Mets on Tuesday? Katie Woo of The Athletic reports that Roberts “conferred with the training staff” on Diaz’s availability, and the trainers wanted Diaz to throw a bullpen session before returning to game activity. He’s been out since Friday night’s blown save against the Texas Rangers.
The outing raised concerns about reduced velocity, which Diaz said is not an active injury. Rather, it’s a byproduct of the knee injury he sustained in 2023 celebrating after winning a game in the World Baseball Classic. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Noel Sanchez (@noisebynoel) Diaz explained that he has suffered similar velo drops ever since, though the issue typically resolves itself as the season goes on.