Dodgers bullpen stat without Edwin Díaz will have LA haters hitting rock bottom

Los Angeles Dodgers haters (especially those of New York Mets affiliation) have despised everything about the Dodgers-Edwin Díaz experience since the right-hander signed with LA for $69 million in December.

Ring-chasing narratives, an extended IL stint due to elbow surgery, and more recently, real-life controversies have attached themselves to Díaz ever since his arrival. But the defending champs have transcended that noise of late by proving that they actually ... don't need Díaz at all. And this development, naturally, has Dodgers adversaries absolutely furious.

Dodgers' bullpen is plenty talented enough to thrive without Edwin Díaz

The Dodgers' Díaz-less bullpen put together a 35-inning scoreless streak between May 13-23, the longest such streak by the Dodgers in almost 30 years.

A huge part of the Dodgers' bullpen success without Díaz is that Tanner Scott has been rolling again in 2026 and looking like the All-Star closer LA acquired in January 2025. Keep in mind, LA paid Scott $72 million at that time to be their primary option in the ninth, and had he not suffered an off year last season, the Dodgers might've not even felt the need to go out and get Díaz this past winter. (Or maybe they would've done so anyway, because they love depth ... more on this below.)

Scott has returned to dominance this year. He was carrying a 1.37 ERA and a 0.61 WHIP entering Saturday, and he's been particularly un-hittable lately.

Jack Dreyer (2.08 ERA) and Alex Vesia (2.65 ERA) have also been particularly sturdy relief options for the Dodgers during Diaz's absence, and there's more quality depth in the bullpen with guys like Blake Treinen and Will Klein.

The Dodgers are the ultimate "next man up" team in pro sports, with the payroll and aggressive front office to support that philosophy with star-level players backing up star-level players across the depth chart.

Dodgers' excellence without Edwin Díaz points to organizational philosophy

In a way, the stunning success without Díaz points to exactly what gives LA an edge over every other team in Major League Baseball, and that's why fans are so upset. Powered by a relentless approach from president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers have in many areas of the roster stockpiled talent that they don't even need ... until one day they will, due to injuries, underperformance, or other unexpected circumstances.

The average franchise constructs a roster and leaves itself open to massive problems if its core of stars gets ravaged by injuries, but not the Dodgers. They have reinforcements waiting in the wings at all levels of the organization to ensure that a championship level is maintained on the diamond, regardless of what their Injured List looks like. Everyone likes to talk about how high the Dodgers' ceiling is talent-wise, but it's also their high floor that gives them such an advantage.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow