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Thursday night was one of the more frustrating losses for the Los Angeles Dodgers during this extended downturn, and Dodgers fans placed the blame squarely on closer Edwin Diaz.
Up 4-2 headed into the ninth inning, Diaz gave up four straight singles, allowing the Milwaukee Brewers to tie the game before he was pulled.
Another runner he left on base later scored on a hit against Alex Vesia, and the Dodgers ultimately fell 5-4.
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Aug 7, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin Diaz reacts after giving up a two run walk off home run by Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt in the ninth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
The confounding loss had Roberts asking the media to “give me another option” at closer outside of the highly paid Diaz, though Roberts indicated that he doesn’t have another player who he feels can take over the role.
“We’ve got to get other guys on track to even have that be even a valid conversation to be honest with you,” he said.
Valid conversation or not, Dodgers fans had plenty to say about the topic on Friday.
Dave Roberts under fire for blown save
While many fans were upset with Diaz for the blown save, they also were frustrated with Roberts for putting the pitcher in that position, especially as he’d already recently blown two saves this week.
“Diaz was gone for 3 months,” wrote Harold Smith. “Don’t sit there and tell us you don’t have options. Scott was wasted on 1 batter. Absolute BS. And please stop saying there has to be an urgency to win games now, because it is obvious there is none where you are concerned. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result.”
“Continuing to use Diaz as the closer and in high leverage is malpractice,” Ohio Dodger wrote.
Fans also expressed some discontentment with Diaz’s famous trumpet entrance, which they argue has lost some of its gravitas as his performance has declined.
“Stick a mute in that damn trumpet! Don’t open the gate to the bullpen when E.D. is behind it,” wrote LJL. “Go to Scott, Henriquez, Vesia, anyone one but Diaz. If the Dodgers could score more than four runs a game there wouldn’t be so much pressure on the ‘pen. And having Scott face only one batter last night? C’mon, Dave.”
Others indicated that they view Diaz as being “this year’s version of Tanner Scott, 2025 edition,” another highly touted closer who struggled.
“Scott had what, 10 or 11 blown saves last year,” wrote Mike H. “He’s back into form this year and has mostly been good to very good. Yet last year, Roberts kept putting him out there, blown save after blown save. All it proves is DR is too stubborn to learn from his very recent mistake. Come on, Davey, we surely had someone closing out games while Diaz was on IL for 3 months. Did you forget that, too? Unreal.”
That said, Scott has improved this year, so there’s hope for Diaz yet. The question is, can he turn it around in 2026 and, if not, what will Dave Roberts do?
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