Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Edwin Díaz faces a three-month absence after the team revealed Monday he needs elbow surgery to clear loose debris from the joint.
Díaz will go under the knife Wednesday at Los Angeles’ Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic, with his return not anticipated until the season’s latter half.
The organization moved the 32-year-old right-handed pitcher to the 15-day injured list while bringing up southpaw Jake Elder from their Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City. Elder joined the Dodgers organization on April 1 in a cash transaction with Washington and has surrendered just two runs across 5 1/3 innings at Oklahoma City this year.
This season, Díaz carries a 1-0 record alongside a troubling 10.50 ERA, recording 10 strikeouts and converting four of five save chances through seven outings. His struggles peaked during Sunday’s 9-6 defeat in Colorado, where he surrendered three runs before being pulled without recording an out. Over his last two appearances, he has given up three earned runs in each outing.
The Dodgers committed significant resources to acquire the three-time All-Star last December, signing him to a three-year, $69 million contract after he walked away from his remaining two years and $38 million with the New York Mets.
The back-to-back World Series champions were scheduled to wrap up their four-game set against Colorado on Monday evening before heading to San Francisco for a Tuesday series opener as part of their seven-game road swing.
