Edwin Díaz’s woes may come down to subtle mechanical change Dodgers can definitely fix

When the Los Angeles Dodgers spent $69 million on Edwin Díaz in December, they thought they were paying for the lockdown closer that Díaz has proven to be throughout his career.

But Díaz has been something else entirely in 2026. Beyond missing time due to loose bodies in his right elbow, he has been wholly ineffective when he has been available. Through 16 appearances this season, Díaz owns an unthinkable 11.85 ERA. He has blown multiple saves recently, and his command has been all over the place.

Working with a decimated bullpen, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has insisted that he doesn't have anyone else healthy and available to replace Díaz in the closer role right now. Should Roberts consider moving Roki Sasaki back to the bullpen, mirroring last season? That question will surely resurface in the days to come after Diaz landed on the IL.

While Diaz is away, perhaps the Dodgers pitching coaches can get him right. They may have identified the mechanical issue that is causing him to look so unlike himself. It's a matter of arm slot.

Edwin Díaz's arm slot keeps dropping, along with his effectiveness for Dodgers

Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic wrote this week about Díaz's ever-falling arm slot, which has caught the attention of the Dodgers' staff. Díaz was delivering the baseball at a 23-degree angle in 2023, but that angle has declined since. 2024: 20 degrees. 2025: 19 degrees. And this season: 15 degrees.

What's the problem with a diminished arm slot? It means that Díaz isn't attacking the plate as "north-south" as before, making his fastball, in particular, a far less fearsome and electric pitch.

Per Ardaya, opposing batters hit .133 against Díaz's fastball last season with a 39.4% whiff rate. This season, opponents are hitting .379 against the pitch with a whiff rate of 16.4%. A jarring difference.

Díaz's slider has also yielded worse statistics this season as compared to last. Both the slider and the fastball have lost some extension and bite with Díaz's arm slot dropping.

What's caused Edwin Díaz's mechanics to change with Dodgers?

Ardaya suggested that the arm slot drop may have resulted from Díaz protecting himself against injury. He underwent surgery in April to remove the aforementioned loose bodies in his elbow. Díaz may be unconsciously dropping his arm slot to reduce stress on the elbow.

The good news is that the Dodgers have identified all of this and are working every day with Díaz to fix the issue and get his arm slot trending back in the direction of its 2023 position.

The Dodgers are clearly still hoping that Díaz can get himself right before October, so that they don't have to go to Plan B for the closer role as they enter the stretch run and playoffs in pursuit of their third-straight championship.

It's also good for Dodgers fans to hear that Díaz himself has fully acknowledged the arm slot issue and is a full and active participant in any plan to help him recover his prior self. The desire is there from Díaz. Next comes the execution, and everyone -- including Díaz -- is still waiting.

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