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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shared a significant update on Edwin Díaz‘s rehab progress, per Tower Buzzers at DodgersBeat. The report details where Díaz stands in his recovery as the team navigates the second half of the 2026 season. The specifics of Roberts’ comments center on Díaz’s rehab trajectory and what the club expects going forward as they work toward getting the hard-throwing right-hander back into game action.

Díaz, of course, built his reputation as one of the most dominant closers in baseball during his time with the Seattle Mariners and then the New York Mets. His signature pitch — a devastating slider that hitters simply cannot square up — made him a perennial All-Star and one of the most feared relievers in the sport. His 2022 season with the Mets was historically great: 32 saves, a 1.31 ERA, and 118 strikeouts in just 62 innings. That year cemented him as the best closer in the National League and earned him a massive contract extension. Injuries, however, have complicated his career arc in recent years, and his availability has been a recurring question mark. Landing with the Dodgers was supposed to give him a chance to anchor a bullpen that already had depth but needed a true high-leverage weapon at the back end.

The fact that Roberts is offering rehab updates publicly suggests the team sees Díaz as part of the plan for the stretch run. That matters. When a player is truly out of the picture, the organization tends to go quiet. Roberts engaging with the media on Díaz’s progress signals optimism — or at least the belief that a return is realistic rather than theoretical. For a Dodgers bullpen that has leaned on a committee approach at times this season, getting a healthy Díaz back would change the calculus entirely. He’s the type of arm that shortens games and lets the rest of the relief corps slot into more comfortable roles.

For us, the key question is what “rehab progress” actually looks like in practice. Is Díaz throwing live batting practice? Is he on a minor league rehab assignment? Is he still in the flat-ground and bullpen-session phase? Those details matter a lot when projecting a return date. Roberts has been measured with his rehab timelines all season — he doesn’t tend to rush guys back, especially high-value arms — so I’d expect the club to be cautious here even if the news is encouraging.

If Díaz can get back and pitch anywhere close to his peak form, this Dodgers bullpen goes from good to genuinely elite. That’s the kind of addition that doesn’t require a trade deadline move. It’s an internal upgrade that could be worth more than most relievers available on the market. We’ll be tracking this closely as more details emerge about where he is in the rehab process and when a return to game action might be realistic.

Source(s): Tower Buzzers (DodgersBeat) | First reported: July 12, 2026 10:17 AM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers