Dodgers’ Bullpen Collapse Deepens Frustration as Diaz Struggles Continue

The Los Angeles Dodgers suffered another ninth-inning collapse Thursday night, falling 5-4 to the National League-leading Milwaukee Brewers in a game that magnified the team’s ongoing relief pitching crisis. Closer Edwin Diaz, baseball’s highest-paid closer, imploded once again by allowing four consecutive one-out singles and three runs after the Dodgers had taken a two-run lead into the final frame, marking his third blown save in his last four appearances.

Manager Dave Roberts made little effort to conceal his exasperation following the defeat, which dropped Los Angeles to 9-13 over its last 22 games and left the team one game behind the Brewers atop the division. When asked if Diaz would remain in his closer role despite the repeated failures, Roberts responded tersely: “Give me another option,” highlighting the shortage of reliable relief arms currently available on the roster.

Roberts acknowledged the fundamental challenge facing his pitching staff, noting that while the Dodgers’ overall bullpen metrics are not alarming, recent high-leverage collapses have strained his ability to manage the situation effectively. “I can’t just say, ‘Change Diaz to low leverage,'” Roberts explained. “I have to have other options, and to be quite honest, none of those guys really have thrown the baseball great.”

Diaz, a three-time All-Star acquired from the New York Mets, has struggled significantly since returning in late July from elbow surgery that sidelined him for three months. His ERA has ballooned to 11.57 across seven appearances, during which he has surrendered eight runs on 12 hits, leaving both the pitcher and his manager searching for answers.

The left-hander acknowledged the mounting pressure and potential loss of his job, stating he remains committed to performing regardless of the role assigned to him. “I know my ability,” Diaz said. “I know what I can do on the mound. To not be able to do it stinks. I’ve just got to come tomorrow and try to keep getting better.”

Roberts indicated that left-hander Tanner Scott, who recorded 16 saves before Diaz’s return, remains a potential alternative, though his recent performance decline has complicated any roster decisions. A closer-by-committee approach also remains a possibility, though Roberts suggested other relief pitchers must first demonstrate reliability for such a strategy to succeed.

The bullpen’s shortcomings have been amplified by the Dodgers’ offensive stagnation, with Los Angeles winning just two games by more than two runs since July 19. This pattern consistently places relievers in precarious situations that magnify their mistakes and ultimately determine outcomes, frustrating Roberts despite his measured perspective on the team’s broader struggles.