LOS ANGELES, California — The Los Angeles Dodgers earned a 3-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers, but instead of the result being the only talking point, much of the attention after the game once again shifted toward Edwin Díaz.
The Dodgers had a relatively solid day as Andy Pages hit a go-ahead home run in the fifth inning, Tommy Edman added another home run, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto controlled most of the game.
Yamamoto finished six innings with nine strikeouts while allowing only one run, providing the foundation for Los Angeles to enter the late innings with a relatively comfortable advantage.
But things once again became tense when Edwin Díaz took the mound in the ninth inning.
Díaz entered the game just days after a disappointing blown save in which he allowed three runs in the final inning and forced the Dodgers to pay the price with a loss.
This time, the Dodgers were leading 3-1 and simply needed Díaz to complete the familiar job of a closer.
But instead of a clean inning, he hit one batter and then issued two consecutive walks.
The Brewers quickly loaded the bases, putting the tying run in scoring position while the go-ahead run was also on base.
The atmosphere at Dodger Stadium immediately became tense as another potential collapse appeared to be unfolding.
In the end, Díaz still escaped the danger.
He got Joey Ortiz to ground out to shortstop, completing his seventh save and helping the Dodgers preserve the 3-1 victory.
But protecting the win could not erase the growing questions surrounding the closer’s performance.
Immediately after the game, a wave of opinions from fans began to surface, calling on the Dodgers to change the way Díaz is used in late-game situations.
Some even wanted the team to “cut ties” with him as the closer, especially after a string of appearances in which he repeatedly put the team in dangerous situations.
For a team with World Series aspirations, unstable ninth innings are extremely difficult to accept.
Díaz still possesses strikeout ability and experience pitching in high-pressure situations, but the issue right now is consistency.
In just a few recent appearances, he has turned seemingly safe leads into moments in which the Dodgers suddenly faced the possibility of losing the game.
That has led to an increasingly significant question.
Should Los Angeles find a new closer?
However, the Dodgers appear to have provided their answer.
Despite the increasingly loud calls for change, manager Dave Roberts said the team currently has no plans to remove Edwin Díaz from the role of finishing games.
Roberts acknowledged that the recent situations have not been what the Dodgers wanted, but he does not feel the team currently has a clear and better option to replace Díaz.
That means the Dodgers will continue to place their trust in the veteran reliever.
For Roberts, changing closers simply in reaction to a few disappointing performances could create even more instability in the bullpen rather than solve the problem.
The Dodgers still value the experience, stuff, and ability to handle pressure that Díaz has demonstrated throughout most of his career.
The coaching staff wants to help him regain his command and confidence rather than immediately push him out of an important role.
However, that patience will undoubtedly continue to be tested.
The Dodgers are entering a stretch in which every victory could have a direct impact on playoff positioning and the race for the National League lead.
A blown save in August may be just one loss.
But similar mistakes in October could end an entire season.
That is why Edwin Díaz will continue to face enormous pressure in his upcoming appearances.
The 3-1 victory over the Brewers helped the Dodgers continue to stay close to the leaders and improve their record during the current homestand.
But the ninth inning once again exposed a problem Los Angeles has not been able to fully solve.
Edwin Díaz is still the closer.
And according to the latest decision from Dave Roberts, that is not going to change yet.
The Dodgers will continue handing him the ball in the most important moments.
Now, the responsibility belongs to Díaz.
He must prove that the Dodgers’ trust in him will not become their most dangerous weakness as the season moves closer to the postseason.
