The Dodgers activated Edwin Díaz from the 60-day injured list on Wednesday as expected, getting their closer back in a bullpen suddenly in need of stability from its right-handed relievers.
Díaz last pitched for the Dodgers on April 19, and missed the last 100 days after arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow. The right-hander allowed one run though his first five appearances this season, striking out eight of his 21 batters faced, a 38.1-percent strikeout rate. But then he allowed three runs in back-to-back performances, separated by eight days off with concern over diminished velocity, before landing on the injured list.
Though he missed the entire 2023 season with a knee injury suffered during the World Baseball Classic, Díaz’s five previous seasons were dominant, with a combined 2.36 ERA, 2.33 xERA, and 40.8-percent strikeout rate, tops in the majors from 2020-25 in xERA and strikeout rate among pitchers with at least 250 innings, and fourth in ERA.
That earned Díaz a three-year, $69 million contract from the Dodgers in December, breaking his own relief pitcher contract record for highest average annual value. Díaz during his rehab assignment pitched in seven games, three with Class-A Ontario, one in the Arizona Complex League, and three with Triple-A Oklahoma City, with a combined 3.18 ERA in 5 2/3 innings and 11 strikeouts among his 22 batters faced.
The Dodgers designated Charlie Barnes for assignment, which created space on both the active and 40-man rosters for Díaz’s activation from the 60-day injured list.
Barnes, who was claimed off waivers from the Cubs on May 9, has pitched in four games for the Dodgers over his three stints in the majors, including pitching an inning on Sunday against the Mets in New York. The left-hander allowed seven runs in 10 innings with five strikeouts and four walks.
For Triple-A Oklahoma City, Barnes had a 5.65 ERA in seven starts with 28 strikeouts and 12 walks in 28 2/3 innings. This is the second time the Dodgers designated Barnes for assignment, along with July 11. That previous time, Barnes cleared waivers then elected free agency before re-signing with the Dodgers on a minor league deal. He was called back up to the majors on July 21, and pitched in one of the six games for which he was active.
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