Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will need to adjust his bullpen strategy following Edwin Diaz's injury and subsequent elbow surgery, which will sideline him for months.
Key points
Edwin Diaz is heading to the injured list.
Diaz will undergo elbow surgery.
Dave Roberts faces bullpen management challenges.
Roberts has experience with difficult bullpen decisions.
Mentioned in this story
Dave RobertsEdwin Diaz
Los Angeles Dodgers
Apr 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts looks on from the bench during the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
Apr 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts looks on from the bench during the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
Roberts, since becoming the Dodgers manager, has faced difficult bullpen decisions regularly, learning to get a feel for his relievers and knowing when to pull a pitcher and when to leave them in.
The manager has gotten quite good at deploying his arms, using the regular season as a good gauge for when to deploy his arms, though his management skills will be tested now that closer Edwin Diaz, the teamâs bona fide closer, has been ruled out for months.
The Dodgers, luckily, have veteran and young talent to thrive in Diazâs absence, though it will require a balancing act.
Q&A
What happened to Edwin Diaz of the Los Angeles Dodgers?
Edwin Diaz has been placed on the injured list and is undergoing elbow surgery.
How long will Edwin Diaz be out for the Dodgers?
Edwin Diaz is expected to be sidelined for several months due to his injury.
Who will handle save chances for the Dodgers after Diaz's injury?
Dave Roberts has not specified who will take over save opportunities in Diaz's absence.
How has Dave Roberts managed the Dodgers' bullpen in the past?
Dave Roberts has developed a good understanding of his relievers and has been effective in making bullpen decisions throughout the regular season.
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Apr 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts looks on from the bench during the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
Apr 18, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts looks on from the bench during the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
Ahead of the series against the San Francisco Giants, Roberts was asked about who would take over the bulk of the save chances at the end of games, especially now that a certified closer is missing.
What is the Dodgersâ new closer approach?
Roberts, as expected, outlined that there will be a handful of options for the team to deploy, but one player stands out as someone who should see an increase in save chances.
âI would say probably Tanner Scott if I had to guess. Weâll see, and that could change, and honestly, I mean, Tanner could pitch in the seventh tonight, and Blake could get the save, so honestly, itâs kind of day-to-day for me, it really is,â Roberts said.
While a closer is still valued in modern baseball, the Dodgers have typically operated without a dedicated guy, and Roberts wants to leave that door open for the team to play matchups and feel.
âI think that the closer should stand out amongst the other guys as far as performance, where itâs a clear-cut guy at the back end, and I think for me, we have the luxury of having a lot of guys that are in a similar bucket, and thatâs my hesitation,â Roberts added.
âSo if we donât have a clear-cut guy that I feel should get the lionâs share or should be the dedicated closer, then I feel. I know people donât like to hear, but it is the closer by committee way of doing it.â
With all of Robertsâ experience and the Dodgersâ track record of using analytics to deploy players, it is hard to argue with the results of the skipperâs approach, and if Scott delivers, he could take the closer reins.
