Dodgers’ Edwin Diaz, Dave Roberts sound off on troubling velocity dip after $89 million signing

The Los Angeles Dodgers splurged $89 million to land Edwin Diaz in December. Diaz’s signing made MLB history in the process. But LA and manager Dave Roberts have seen the right-handed pitcher struggle early in 2026.

Including witnessing Diaz’s troubling velocity dip on his pitch.

Diaz threw heat that topped 97 miles per hour throughout his career. His fastball pitches have decreased to 95.8 mph. 

“Díaz’s drop in velocity is enough to prompt at least some concern about the health of the reigning back-to-back champions’ new closer,” wrote Dodgers insider for The Athletic Fabian Ardaya on Sunday.

But is Roberts immediately panicking involving the dip in velocity?

“Everything I hear, (he says) that he feels fine,” Roberts said Sunday morning via Ardaya. “I think for me, you hear it, you want to completely trust it. But then you’re also looking at the (radar) gun and making sure. We’re sort of trying to dig in a little bit. But I think that, you know, two miles an hour, that’s pretty significant.”

Still, the three-time World Series champion skipper doesn’t have high concern for Diaz. The pitcher believes this is more early season jitters on his end.

Diaz surrendered four runs so far this season, struck out 10 batters and produced four saves.

“As soon as the season starts going, I start feeling better and better and better,” Díaz said via Ardaya. “And my velo at the end of the year will be what I’m throwing always.”

Los Angeles entered Sunday with an 11-3 overall record. Shohei Ohtani pounded a leadoff home run Saturday against the Texas Rangers to take the 6-3 win there. But he, Diaz and the Dodgers trailed 2-1 Sunday against Texas after three innings.

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