Edwin Díaz Strengthens Dodgers’ Bullpen as Roberts Weighs Options

Edwin Díaz has given the Los Angeles Dodgers a compelling reason to trust him with the most critical outs of their postseason games. By converting save opportunities in Games 3 and 4 of the National League Division Series, the right-hander demonstrated the reliability the club needs as it moves closer to a potential World Series appearance.

Manager Dave Roberts has not formally designated Díaz as his permanent closer, but his decisions on the mound have offered a strong indication of how the Dodgers may approach late-game situations. With the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers approaching, Díaz has emerged as a central figure in the team’s bullpen plans.

Consecutive saves strengthen Díaz’s case

Roberts praised Díaz after the Dodgers completed their Division Series victory in four games, emphasizing that performances like his were a major reason the organization acquired him.

The manager highlighted Díaz’s ability to pitch at an elite level when the stakes are highest. For a team pursuing another championship, having a proven closer performing well in October can provide an important advantage.

Díaz, meanwhile, pointed to the confidence the Dodgers have shown in him. He said the team’s willingness to give him the ball reflects the opportunity he sought when joining Los Angeles: helping secure victories and finish games.

Although the postseason rarely follows a fixed script, those consecutive assignments suggest Díaz could handle the ninth inning or other particularly demanding situations whenever Roberts considers him the best option.

Dodgers retain several alternatives in the bullpen

Díaz’s emergence does not eliminate the importance of Los Angeles’ other late-inning relievers. Tanner Scott and Evan Phillips remain experienced options who can contribute in high-leverage situations, giving Roberts several ways to manage a game.

Scott recorded 25 saves during the regular season. After allowing a two-run home run in Game 1 of the Division Series, he recovered to record holds in the eighth inning of Games 3 and 4. Phillips, who had one regular-season save, came in for Scott in the opener and secured the victory.

If Díaz takes responsibility for the ninth inning, Scott and Phillips could be deployed earlier, allowing Roberts to use their strengths against specific hitters and in situations where the game is most vulnerable to a momentum shift.

Matchups remain central to Roberts’ strategy

The Dodgers also have left-hander Alex Vesia and right-hander Edgardo Henriquez available for important assignments. Both can help Roberts navigate difficult portions of opposing lineups, particularly when the handedness of a hitter creates a favorable matchup.

Vesia sees similarities between the current group and the relief corps that helped Los Angeles win the 2024 championship. He pointed to the manager’s range of pitching options as a major strength.

That depth gives Roberts flexibility to make decisions based on the hitters due up, the score and the game’s overall pressure rather than reserving a particular reliever exclusively for the final inning.

Roki Sasaki adds another option

Roki Sasaki also remains part of the Dodgers’ relief plans. After spending the regular season as a starter, he was sidelined in August by a blister on his right hand and later returned in a bullpen role.

Since coming back from the injured list, Sasaki has made four relief appearances, including one in the postseason, and has recorded scoreless innings in each. His effectiveness gives Los Angeles another potential weapon, although his ability to handle the most demanding late-game situations remains less established than Díaz’s recent postseason performance.

Dodgers prepare for the Brewers with bullpen depth

The upcoming National League Championship Series will test the Dodgers’ ability to manage their pitching staff against Milwaukee. Rather than relying exclusively on one designated closer, Roberts can use his relievers according to the specific demands of each game.

Díaz’s back-to-back saves provide a strong foundation for that approach. If he continues to perform under pressure, Los Angeles can deploy Scott, Phillips, Vesia, Henriquez and Sasaki in roles that maximize their individual strengths.

Roberts has expressed confidence in the depth of his bullpen, particularly the pitchers capable of handling the closing stages of a game. That confidence could prove decisive in a postseason series where a single inning can determine the outcome.