Los Angeles Dodgers’ key pitcher, Edwin Diaz, finds himself on the injured list for the second time this season. Although his recent performances have disappointed fans, the team received hopeful news.

An MRI conducted on Wednesday confirmed only initial neck inflammation. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts described this finding as the “best case” scenario. He stated, “It went well. There was no findings, so that was good. The MRI was clean. It doesn’t change the fact that he had this sensation in his neck, but keep working on it, give it some rest as far as throwing a baseball.” Roberts anticipates Diaz being “shut down” for a couple of days, focusing on soft tissue and manual therapies to aid recovery.

This diagnosis suggests that Diaz, who underwent elbow surgery earlier this season, could return to play this year. He remains a vital part of the Dodgers’ quest for a third consecutive World Series title. The team invested in Diaz by signing him to a three-year, $69 million contract, making him their major offseason acquisition.

In recent games, Diaz has faced difficulties, losing multiple saves within a week. He attributes these struggles to mechanical issues, potentially linked to neck inflammation. Diaz noted, “I think I’m leaning too much to the right-handed hitter; instead, go straight to home plate. I think today was way better, I think I was rushing myself a bit.” Adjustments to his arm angle and posture are part of his strategy for improvement, contributing to a better fastball performance recently.

Roberts mentioned that Diaz’s injury is “muscular and not nerve-y,” offering optimism for resolving his posture problem. With adjustments, Diaz hopes to overcome neck pain and resume playing effectively.