The Los Angeles Dodgers are placing star reliever Edwin Díaz on the 15-day injured list with neck inflammation, manager Dave Roberts confirmed Tuesday, according to Jack Harris of the California Post.
Díaz is returning to Los Angeles for further evaluation, Roberts added. While a timeline for his return is not yet known, the skipper expects Díaz to pitch again this year, per Harris.
This is the second time Díaz has landed on the IL this season. He missed over three months following an April surgery to remove loose bodies from his throwing elbow. Since returning from that IL stint July 29, the 32-year-old put up a 15.88 ERA with three blown saves and nearly as many strikeouts (seven) as he has walks (five) over 5 2/3 innings.
On Monday at Coors Field, Díaz entered an 11-2 game in the ninth inning and proceeded to allow three runs on four hits with no strikeouts before finally finishing off the lowly Colorado Rockies. His velocity was generally diminished during the outing.
Díaz shocked the baseball world by joining the Dodgers on a three-year, $69-million deal last winter. But the three-time Reliever of the Year winner has looked nothing like the bullpen anchor L.A. envisioned, instead sporting a 11.85 ERA and 2.56 WHIP along with 19 strikeouts, 10 walks, and four blown saves across 16 total appearances.
Left-hander Tanner Scott will presumably return to ninth-inning duties going forward. Scott stepped up as a reliable closer for the Dodgers after Díaz's prior injury, tallying 16 saves along with a 2.20 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 62 strikeouts over 49 innings this year.
Los Angeles is recalling right-hander Emmet Sheehan from Triple-A Oklahoma City in a corresponding roster move, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic. Sheehan, who's made 20 starts in the majors this year, will work in relief going forward.
