Dodgers Put Diaz on IL; Ohtani Throws Bullpen
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- Edwin Diaz was placed on the injured list with right-side neck inflammation and returned to Los Angeles for imaging, per manager Dave Roberts, who said the closer "felt" something Monday night.
- Diaz has gone 2-2 with an 11.85 ERA and seven saves in 11 chances across 16 games in his first Dodgers season.
- Since returning from a prior IL stint (April 20–July 29) for elbow surgery to remove loose bodies, Diaz has a 15.88 ERA with three blown saves in seven appearances.
- Roberts suggested the neck issue could explain the slump: "could be a reason why the stuff is not playing like it has in the past."
- Shohei Ohtani threw approximately 35 pitches using his full pitch mix before Tuesday's game in Denver, and his next step is live batting practice.
- Ohtani last pitched July 3 against San Diego and is 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts this season while also leading Los Angeles with 29 home runs.
Why it matters: The Dodgers are managing simultaneous health concerns with their closer and their ace: Diaz's IL stint removes the ninth-inning option during a 15.88 ERA post-return slide, while Ohtani's full-mix bullpen moves him closer to rejoining a rotation that hasn't had him since July 3 — both developments matter for a team eyeing a deep postseason run.
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