Dodgers Closer Edwin Díaz to Undergo Elbow Surgery, Out for Three Months

In a significant blow to their bullpen, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced Monday that closer Edwin Díaz will undergo surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow. The procedure is scheduled for Wednesday at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles, and the team expects Díaz to be sidelined for approximately three months, pushing his return to the second half of the season.

As part of the roster adjustments necessitated by Díaz’s injury, the Dodgers have placed the 32-year-old right-hander on the 15-day injured list. To fill the gap in their pitching staff, they have recalled left-hander Jake Elder from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Elder, who joined the organization from the Washington Nationals in exchange for cash on April 1, has pitched 5 1/3 innings this season, allowing two runs.

In his brief time on the mound this year, Díaz has recorded a 1-0 record with a 10.50 ERA, striking out 10 batters and successfully converting four of five save opportunities. Unfortunately, his recent outings have been troubling, as he allowed three runs without recording an out during Sunday’s 9-6 loss to the Colorado Rockies, marking the second consecutive appearance where he surrendered three earned runs.

Díaz’s signing last December was a major move for the Dodgers, as they inked the three-time All-Star to a lucrative three-year, $69 million contract after he opted out of the final two years and $38 million of his previous deal with the New York Mets.

As the two-time defending World Series champions, the Dodgers are now faced with the challenge of navigating the remainder of the season without their closer. They were looking to wrap up a four-game series against the Rockies on Monday night before embarking on a seven-game road trip that begins with a series against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.