The Dodgers reinstated closer Edwin Díaz from the 60-day injured list, per a club announcement. Lefty Charlie Barnes was designated for assignment to create space on the active and 40-man rosters.
Díaz returns after more than three months on the shelf. The three-time All-Star underwent surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow in the middle of April. That explained his early struggles, as Díaz allowed seven runs on nine hits and five walks over his first six innings of the season. His fastball averaged 95.7 mph, a tick below the 97 mph heater he had in April 2025.
Los Angeles has more than weathered the storm. Tanner Scott has had an excellent season as the fill-in closer, going 16-18 in save opportunities while firing 42 2/3 innings of 2.32 ERA ball. He’ll move back into a setup role. Former closer Evan Phillips is also in a setup capacity after making his return from Tommy John surgery three weeks ago. Brock Stewart is healthy, while southpaw Alex Vesia is having another strong season despite a career-high walk rate.
The Dodger bullpen ranks 13th in ERA but trails only the Guardians in strikeout rate. They’re tied for the sixth-fewest blown saves despite frequently pitching with the lead. Like any contender, they could look for a reliever or two on the trade front, but Díaz’s return and Scott’s rebound season should have them fairly comfortable with the late innings. Díaz has looked sharp on his rehab assignment, striking out 11 across 5 2/3 frames of two-run ball. He averaged 95.7 mph on the fastball in Triple-A, so last year’s velocity hasn’t immediately returned after the operation.
The Dodgers are cruising to another division title and have a good chance of securing a top two seed in the National League to earn a first-round bye. They’re a half-game up on the Brewers for the NL’s best record and four games clear of Atlanta for the bye.
Barnes has had two brief stints as a long man in Dave Roberts’ bullpen. He has eaten 10 innings over four appearances, surrendering seven runs on 13 hits. The Clemson product has recorded five strikeouts and issued four walks. Barnes also made a one-off appearance with the Cubs early this year, his first MLB action in five seasons. He has a 4.39 ERA across 55 1/3 Triple-A innings between the two organizations.
The 30-year-old Barnes cleared waivers and elected free agency after being DFA by the Dodgers around the All-Star Break. He returned on a minor league contract and was called back up within a week. He’s likely to land back on waivers in the next five days and would again have the right to test the market if he clears.
