LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� Struggling Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Edwin D铆az will be ready to fight for the closer role when he comes off the injured list next month.
D铆az is feeling better after coming out of his with neck inflammation. He threw a bullpen session on Saturday and expects to be ready to return when his 15-day IL stint concludes in early September.
鈥淚 feel weird after the game on Monday, so I talked to the team, and they decided to check me and see what鈥檚 going on. But everything was good,鈥� D铆az said Sunday.
The neck trouble was the latest setback in a difficult first season in Los Angeles for D铆az after . He has a 11.85 ERA and four blown saves in 16 games, with earlier this month, after in April.
D铆az attributed those issues to a drop in his arm angle, which caused additional concern when the neck inflammation popped up. After an MRI came back clean, D铆az has been able to return his focus to cleaning up his mechanics.
鈥淚 think with a good arm angle, my fastball run way better than how I鈥檓 throwing right now,” he said. “I鈥檓 throwing the ball side to side, so my slider is getting flat in the middle. My fastball is running through the bat, so that鈥檚 why we are working now on that, get my arm angle back, and try to keep going and keep working.鈥�
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said D铆az would not immediately be used in the ninth inning when he returns, and the 32-year-old understands that decision.
鈥淵ou know, I haven鈥檛 pitched good,鈥� D铆az said. 鈥淭anner Scott is doing a great job. I鈥檓 really happy for him. So when I come back, I just want to do my job, help the team to win and make the (postseason) after that.鈥�
The Dodgers have plenty of other moving pieces right now as they gear up to try for a third straight World Series title.
Shohei Ohtani could return to pitching soon
Two-way star Shohei Ohtani is set to throw another bullpen session during a three-game series at the Atlanta Braves, which starts Tuesday. If that goes well, Ohtani could return to pitch in a game the following week. He has because of a left knee injury.
Roberts said Ohtani, who is 8-2 on the mound this season with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings, would then begin building up his stamina as an opener.
鈥淥bviously, we got Glass (Tyler Glasnow) coming back, we have (Eric) Lauer with length, and so to then have the opportunity, the flexibility to insert Shohei to build up like he did last year, I think, is of huge benefit,鈥� Roberts said.
Andy Pages has surgery on broken hand
Center fielder Andy Pages had a surgical procedure to stabilize the in a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday. Roberts did not indicate the surgery would have an impact on the previously anticipated timeline that would have Pages returning before the end of the regular season.
Catcher Will Smith will begin a rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday as he recovers from a neck injury that has kept him out since June 5.
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