RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has gotten a lot of flak over his decision to stick with Edwin Diaz as the closer, though he feels strongly that it is the right call.
Diaz has been the opposite of a closer, serving as a reliever who pitches inconsistently from one at-bat to the next.
It was not easy at all for Edwin Diaz, but he got the save. He walked three batters, one of whom was hit, but he got the three outs. Diaz's command was very bad, and the defense helped him out, yet this could be a launching point. Dave Roberts never flinched and rode it out…
— Nelson Espinal (@nelson__espinal) August 15, 2026
He ends up striking someone out with a painted fastball on the edges, then loses all command or throws a pitch down the middle.
Rather than feeling like he is going to get three outs and secure the win, fans end up holding their breath as he delivers pitch after pitch.
Aug 8, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (4) looks out to the field before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Anna Carrington-Imagn Images
Over the past 10 days, since returning from the injured list, Diaz has blown three different save attempts, with the damage coming from pitches lacking movement and bite, or just being located poorly.
The scrutiny reached a breaking point on Thursday after Diaz cost the Dodgers a win at home against the Brewers.
After the game, knowing what questions were coming, Roberts stood strongly in the corner of Diaz.
“Give me another option,” Roberts said sharply to the media, including Dodgers Nation. “I can’t just say change (and use Diaz) in lower leverage; I have to have other options. And to be quite honest, none of those guys really are throwing the baseball great. So that’s just kind of the way it is.”
Roberts, given how long he’s been in the game, is one of the coolest and most seasoned managers when it comes to handling the media, but he couldn’t hide his visible frustration.
It was quite uncharacteristic of Roberts, but on Friday, he did something quite typical — stick by his guys and give them the chance to figure things out.
Roberts trotted Diaz out for a save attempt, and despite nearly blowing it again, he got the win for the Dodgers.
Edwin Diaz, after the game, on Dave Roberts and the Dodgers' support: "It means a lot to me. I'm in a rough stretch right now, but I keep working hard and trying to make pitches," Diaz said. "Today it wasn't easy, but I got the job done, so I'm happy."…
— Nelson Espinal (@nelson__espinal) August 15, 2026
Roberts’ response to the criticism
The skipper explained why he stuck with the struggling bullpen arm despite calls from fans to use a different closer.
“Every year, when somebody’s struggling, [people are] always like, ‘You gotta take them out. You gotta move the role,’” Roberts said to the California Post. “But, no matter what, I have to be the person that doesn’t overreact. I have to wait longer than everyone wants to. I have to.”
Additionally, Roberts believes the alternatives are not necessarily clear-cut.
“A lot of people don’t have the information on availability, workload and redlining guys and trying to keep guys healthy,” Roberts explained to The Athletic’s Katie Woo.
“I don’t have everyone available every single night. Tanner’s workload’s been high, and so I’m trying to be mindful of that with the up-downs. Evan’s coming off Tommy John, so I’m trying to be mindful of that. I essentially pitch Alex every other day, and you know he’s not an up-down guy, hasn’t been for a couple years. So you start eliminating…
“When you peel that layer back, then your options get a little bit smaller, and then you’re talking about lanes and what’s the best for a particular pitcher. Those things all matter.”
Given it is the regular season, Roberts knows he still has wiggle room to give guys chances, but for the postseason, he will deploy an aggressive approach where workload will factor in much less.
If Diaz does figure things out, like the Puerto Rican believes he has , then he will be the postseason closer, but there will need to be tangible proof for Roberts or fans to have faith in him.
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