Dodgers' Edwin Diaz Attributes Slow Start to Annual Velocity Dip

Diaz's fastball has been 95.8 mph on average so far, down from his 97.2 mph average in 2025, but the closer says he's not worried as his velocity typically returns later in the season.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 8:09pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting in navy, green, and orange tones depicting the overlapping planes and angles of a baseball pitcher's delivery, conveying the kinetic energy and raw power of the sport.A cubist interpretation of a pitcher's motion captures the raw power and kinetic energy of the game, reflecting the Dodgers' cautious approach to managing Diaz's early-season velocity dip.Los Angeles Today

Los Angeles Dodgers closer Edwin Diaz has seen a dip in his fastball velocity to start the 2026 season, averaging 95.8 mph compared to his 97.2 mph average in 2025. Diaz says this is a normal pattern for him, with his velocity typically returning to normal levels as the season progresses. He attributes the slow start to his velocity to a knee injury he suffered in 2023 during the World Baseball Classic, but says he feels physically fine and is not concerned about the issue.

Why it matters

Diaz's diminished velocity has raised some concern, as a drop in fastball speed can often be an indicator of an underlying physical issue. However, Diaz has a history of this pattern, and the Dodgers are taking a cautious approach, wanting Diaz to be honest about any potential problems rather than trying to pitch through them as former teammate Blake Snell did. The team remains confident there is no serious problem, but will continue to monitor the situation closely.

The details

In his first six games with the Dodgers, Diaz's fastball velocity has averaged 95.8 mph, a significant drop from his 97.2 mph average in 2025 and 97.7 mph career average. Diaz says this slow start to the season in terms of velocity is a pattern he has experienced the last couple of years since returning from a knee injury in 2023. He believes the velocity will return to normal levels as the season progresses, as has been the case in recent seasons.

  • Diaz missed the 2023 season with a knee injury suffered during the World Baseball Classic that spring.
  • In his first six games of the 2026 season, Diaz's fastball velocity has averaged 95.8 mph.

The players

Edwin Diaz

The Los Angeles Dodgers' closer who is experiencing a dip in fastball velocity to start the 2026 season, but expects it to return to normal levels as the season progresses.

Blake Snell

A former teammate of Diaz's who developed a shoulder problem in spring training, tried to pitch through it, and ended up missing four months on the Injured List as a result.

Dave Roberts

The manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who is taking a cautious approach with Diaz's velocity issues and wants him to be honest about any potential physical problems.

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What they’re saying

“I think the last couple years, it's been like that. It starts kind of slow. And then as the season goes, my velo comes back to normal. So I'm not worried about it. I feel good. I'm just competing.”

— Edwin Diaz, Dodgers Closer

“Players want to play. They want to perform. Sometimes they're their worst enemy. I think that's another reason why we're kind of just, again, treading lightly is the word I'm using. Because you've got to respect that they want to be out there. But then we all kind of end up with the short straw if the player goes down.”

— Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager

What’s next

The Dodgers will continue to closely monitor Diaz's velocity and performance, and make day-to-day decisions on his availability based on his status. They want to ensure he is honest about any physical issues and not try to pitch through problems as his former teammate Blake Snell did.

The takeaway

Diaz's velocity dip to start the season is not an uncommon occurrence for the Dodgers closer, who has experienced similar patterns in recent years. While the team is taking a cautious approach, they remain confident there is no serious underlying issue and expect Diaz's velocity to return to normal levels as the season progresses, as it has in the past.