Los Angeles Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz bounced back from a disappointing performance with a narrow save against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, August 14th. The previous day proved difficult for the reliever, as he surrendered four consecutive singles that resulted in three earned runs and cost the team a victory. Despite the earlier setback, Diaz managed to escape a perilous situation in his next appearance, stranding runners on base to secure the win.
The Friday outing remained far from comfortable, as Diaz hit a batter, struck out one, and walked two others before Tommy Edman made a crucial defensive play on a line drive. After loading the bases, Diaz induced a weak ground ball for the final out. Manager Dave Roberts opted to give the closer a brief respite to work on mechanical adjustments before his next appearance.
Diaz attributed his recent struggles to issues with his pitching mechanics. He identified problems with his posture, noting that he had been leaning excessively toward right-handed batters instead of maintaining a straight path to home plate. Additionally, he acknowledged that his arm angle had dropped to 15 degrees in 2026 compared to 20 degrees in 2024, potentially affecting his fastball movement and command. Rushing through his delivery compounded these mechanical issues, Diaz explained.
The pitcher expressed optimism about the corrections implemented during his most recent outing, reporting improved fastball rise compared to his previous appearance. By refining his posture and arm angle while slowing his delivery, Diaz hopes to regain the consistency that has eluded him this season.
