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Edwin Díaz, still facing wrath of Dodgers fans, is lucky Kyle Tucker is spiraling right now

Edwin Díaz was bad, but Kyle Tucker continues to be worse.
Milwaukee Brewers v. Los Angeles Dodgers
Milwaukee Brewers v. Los Angeles Dodgers | Nicole Vasquez/GettyImages

The Los Angeles Dodgers gifted Edwin Díaz with an ideal low-leverage situation on Monday night. He entered Monday night's game against the Colorado Rockies with an 11-2 lead in the ninth inning, and it felt like an ideal time for him to right the ship.

Instead, it was another disastrous appearance for the former All-Star closer. Díaz was tagged for three runs on four hits, pushing his ERA on the season to 11.85. Despite Dave Roberts refusing to address the elephant in the room, it's become clear that the Dodgers have a problem.

The first season of the Díaz experience in LA has been a disaster. He missed a larger chunk of the season after undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow, and when he has been healthy, he's been far from the high-leverage closer the Dodgers prioritized last offseason.

Under any other season, Díaz's struggles would be the top storyline for the Dodgers. But, in that regard, the gift that keeps on giving is Kyle Tucker. For as bad as Díaz has been, Tucker has been worse.

Edwin Díaz is unravelling while Kyle Tucker absorbs the ire of Dodgers fans

Just when it seems as though Tucker has hit a new low with the Dodgers, he miraculously finds a way spiral even further into descent. After a weekend that included him being benched due to his struggles at Dodger Stadium, and consequently booed upon his return on Sunday, Tucker's dysfunction continued on Monday against the Rockies.

Tucker misplayed another fall in right field, this time falling to his knees while misjudging a flyball that eventually popped out of his glove.

Tucker continues to be allergic to hitting, going 0-for-5 on Monday night. He is now hitless through his last 27 plate appearances, and it's reached the point where his struggles can't be ignored. Along those lines, Roberts was pretty honest about where Tucker is mentally right now.

"He's frustrated. Certainly, the play out in right field, there's indecision. Catching a baseball at your ankles kind of speaks to where his head is at right now. It's not from lack of effort (or) care. It's just kind of right now he's fighting it. We've got to keep supporting him."

Cameras also appeared to catch Tucker somewhat discouraged while sitting by himself in the Dodgers' dugout. There were signs last summer that Tucker wasn't the superstar that media pundits have propped him up to be, and the Dodgers ignored those warnings. The longer this saga drags on, while masking Díaz's struggles, the more it seems like the Dodgers don't have any answer for how to fix it.

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