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Edwin Díaz‘s MRI results on his neck have come back as a “best-case scenario,” per DodgerBlue.com. Díaz returned to Los Angeles for the MRI and a visit with Dr. Robert Watkins after being placed back on the injured list with neck inflammation following a rough stretch of appearances.

Díaz’s 2026 season has been a winding road. He made his return to the Dodgers roster on July 29 after recovering from right elbow surgery — a procedure that cost him significant time and raised real questions about whether he could recapture the electric stuff that once made him one of the most dominant closers in baseball. Through his time with the Mets, Díaz established himself as a truly elite reliever, punctuated by his historic 2022 campaign. The Dodgers brought him in knowing the risk, and the early returns after his comeback were not encouraging. He struggled through nine appearances before the club shut him down again, this time with the neck issue.

The neck inflammation was a new concern layered on top of everything else. When a pitcher is already working his way back from major elbow surgery, any additional physical setback raises red flags. That’s what made the MRI so important — and why the “best-case scenario” language matters here. It suggests this is something manageable, not a structural problem that could derail his season or require additional procedures.

For the Dodgers, this is genuinely good news in a bullpen picture that’s been in flux. Tanner Scott has stepped back into the closer role with Díaz sidelined, and the pen has managed to hold things together. But the long-term plan still involves Díaz as a high-leverage weapon if he can get healthy and find his command. His stuff, when right, is still electric — the fastball velocity was there in his initial appearances, even if the results weren’t.

I think the key question now is timeline. Best-case MRI results don’t tell us when Díaz will be back on a mound, and the Dodgers have been cautious with him all year (rightly so). We’re past mid-August, so every week matters in terms of getting him stretched out, building confidence, and being ready for October. The fact that they sent him back to LA for the imaging rather than handling it on the road tells you they wanted a thorough look from the doctor they trust most on this.

This is the kind of update where you exhale a little. It’s not a setback on top of a setback — it’s a speed bump that appears to be exactly that. Now we wait to see how quickly the inflammation resolves and when Díaz can start ramping back up. If the Dodgers can get a healthy, effective Díaz back for September and into the postseason, that changes the complexion of our bullpen considerably.

Source(s): Staff (DodgerBlue.com) | First reported: August 19, 2026 11:20 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers