Dodgers’ Edwin Diaz identifies his biggest issue in blown save vs. Diamondbacks

Edwin Diaz has a clear idea of what cost him Friday night, and it comes down to one pitch. The Dodgers closer addressed his blown save against the Diamondbacks, a game that ended when Ryan Waldschmidt hit a walk-off two-run homer, pointing directly to his slider as the culprit.

“I think my fastball today was great. I just made one mistake and paid off,” Diaz said post-game. “I missed the slider right in the middle, and I paid up. So I’ve got to find a way to throw my slider better. I’ve got better pitches, and if I do that, it would be better.”

Edwin Díaz on whether rust has affected his outings on the mound since coming off the IL:

“I think everything I’ve done has been good. When I get to the game, I don’t know why I’m missing my slider right down the middle.” #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/K44kIZVl9C

— Adrian Medina (@AdrianMedina_16) August 8, 2026

Diaz has been working his way back from elbow surgery, and he was asked directly whether rust from the layoff was playing a role in his recent struggles.

“I think everything I’ve done has been good, but when I get to the game, I don’t know why I’m missing my slider right in the middle,” he said. “My delivery was better today than normal. My last outing, my fastball was going side to side. Today was better. I’m just trying to figure it out. I trust my catcher, my teammates, my pitching coach, and we’ll figure out what’s going on.”

He explained why the pitch matters so much to his overall arsenal, even with a fastball he considers to be in good form.

“I’ve got a good fastball, but my slider is the strikeout pitch,” Diaz said. “Today I missed with two strikes on that pitch, right in the middle, and I paid off. Just got to keep working. I’m still positive. I’m always positive.”

The blown save extended the Dodgers’ losing streak to seven games, continuing one of the roughest stretches of the season for a team that entered the skid with the best record in baseball. Diaz, one of the most decorated closers in the league before his injury, now finds himself searching for consistency at the exact moment Los Angeles needs its bullpen to stabilize.

With the Dodgers set to continue their series against Arizona on Saturday, all eyes will be on whether Diaz can find the feel for his signature pitch before the calendar turns to the stretch run.

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