In Tuesday’s 2-1 victory over the Mets, it was Alex Vesia turning an emotional night into a memorable one with his second save of the season.
On any other night, of course, Edwin Díaz would have been enlisted for the game’s closing act.
However, the right-hander’s ongoing battle with decreased velocity had taken another unknown twist earlier that afternoon.
Having not pitched in four days –– since a blown three-run save last Friday that highlighted concerns over his early-season velo drop –– the Dodgers gave Díaz a different task Tuesday, having him throw a pregame bullpen session as a final check-mark before clearing him to return to game action.
It was a decision, manager Dave Roberts said following the win, that came from the team’s pitching coaches and training staff.
“You got to go through protocol and certain channels,” he explained, “and they wanted to see a bullpen.”
The good news, Roberts noted, was that the exercise should alleviate any lingering uncertainties about the $69 million closer’s physical health.
Over the weekend, the team ran manual tests on the knee Díaz had surgically repaired back in 2023, after he noted it felt off on Friday. And while Díaz himself told reporters he didn’t have any noticeable ailments, Roberts had been repeatedly coy about his availability, even while insisting that it wasn’t likely to be an injured list situation.
On Tuesday, Roberts was encouraged that Díaz’s velocity was up in the mid-90s.
“For a bullpen,” he said, “just what you want to see.”
And as long as Díaz rebounds well on Wednesday, the expectation is that he will be an option for that night’s series finale against his old Mets team.
“Honestly, I felt it was benign from the outset,” Roberts said. “But we were going to be cautious (with him), which we were.”
