The Los Angeles Dodgers’ season-worst losing streak reached seven games on Friday with a 4-3 walk-off defeat to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Edwin Díaz allowed the game-winning two-run homer to Ryan Waldschmidt with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning. The right-hander threw a slider that caught too much of the plate and it was promptly sent over the wall in left-center field.
The right-hander has now allowed at least one run in three of his four appearances since returning from the 60-day injured list. He blamed his recent struggles on a slider that has been susceptible to hard contact.
“I think it’s my slider,” Díaz said on SportsNet LA after his blown save against the Diamondbacks. “My fastball was great today, but I missed my slider right over the middle. I’ve got to find a way to throw my slider better and execute better pitches.”
Díaz downplayed lacking a feel for his slider and believes he is simply missing his spots.
“I think I’m just trying to be perfect with that pitch, and it’s missing right over the middle. I’ve got to be better,” Díaz said.
The 32-year-old returned to the Dodgers at the end of July after missing the past three and a half months while recovering from right elbow surgery. Díaz had five loose bodies removed that he previously pitched through for his entire MLB career.
Despite the long layoff, Díaz didn’t want to make any excuses for his slider being ineffective and emphasized a need to figure things out quickly.
“I’ve got to find it tonight or tomorrow when I come to the field,” Díaz said. “That’s my pitch. I’ve got a good fastball, but my slider is my strikeout pitch. I’ve got to keep working. Just got to do my job better.”
Edwin Díaz’s 2026 stats
Díaz is looking to improve on what has been a bumpy start to his Dodgers career after signing a record-setting three-year, $69 million contract. He has five saves in seven opportunities while pitching to an 11.50 ERA, 6.98 FIP and 2.44 WHIP in nine innings across 11 appearances.
Díaz posted a 3.18 ERA and 1.06 WHIP while striking out 11 batters over 5.2 innings in seven appearances on his rehab assignment with three Minor League affiliates prior to rejoining the Dodgers.
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