The Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to activate Edwin Díaz from the injured list on Friday, but he will not slot back into closing games right away.
According to the Orange County Register's Bill Plunkett, Dave Roberts said the plan is to activate Díaz for the San Francisco Giants series, but to have him pitch in "low leverage" situations for the time being. Roberts also called the bullpen a "meritocracy" and said that Díaz needs to prove himself.
Díaz was the National League Reliever of the Year last year and has won three career Reliever of the Year Awards. The Dodgers gave him a three-year, $69 million deal in the offseason, but he has had a terrible season.
Through his first six games, he had a 10.50 ERA and blew a save. He then underwent a procedure to remove loose bodies from his elbow. After returning, he posted a 12.91 ERA in nine games, blowing three saves. The Dodgers placed him on the injured list with neck inflammation on Aug. 18 and are hoping for the best version of him this time.
Díaz has noted that he thinks fixing his arm angle will help him, but it's a results-based business. He will have to prove he can pitch like the Dodgers expected him to be, and the Dodgers need him more now than ever.
Since the All-Star Break, the Dodgers bullpen has a 4.34 ERA, ranked 20th in baseball. The bullpen also has a 10.4% walk rate, the seventh-worst in baseball. Dodgers relievers have also given up 24 home runs in the second half. If Díaz can come back and pitch like an All-Star, it will go a long way in fixing the bullpen woes. The team is currently without Edgardo Henriquez, so they need a reliable right-hander in the bullpen.