Roberts said Diaz pitched a bullpen before the game because he hadn’t appeared in a game since Friday’s rough outing against the Rangers, and the club wanted to see him on the mound before returning him to action.
Diaz is set for a reevaluation ahead of Wednesday’s matchup with New York. If cleared, he figures to be available, which would help ease some injury concerns surrounding the three-year, $69 million contract he signed this offseason.
With Diaz in question, the Dodgers have options. Vesia delivered a sharp save by striking out the side on Tuesday. Long-term high-leverage options include Tanner Scott and Blake Treinen, with Evan Phillips and Brock Stewart also in the mix when healthy. Scott is viewed as the top internal candidate to close if Diaz can’t go, after saving 23 games for L.A. last season and posting a strong 1.17 ERA this year through limited work.
Diaz entered the game 4-for-4 on save opportunities this season, but his ERA rose to 6.00 after the tough outing against Texas. He ultimately earned the win as the pitcher of record when Max Muncy delivered the walk-off in the bottom of the ninth.
The dramatic finish came after Muncy’s third homer of the day, this one off left-hander Jacob Latz, sealing a 3-2 comeback win for the Dodgers. Latz had retired Will Smith and Freddie Freeman earlier in the frame, setting the stage for Muncy’s decisive blast.
The pregame explanation for Diaz’s absence will be weighed against his status in the coming days, as Los Angeles monitors his workload and performance ahead of planned late-inning chances.
