If Edwin Diaz doesn’t improve, Roki Sasaki can be Dodgers’ playoff closer again

Nypost · Aug 08, 2026 · 766 words · By Dylan Hernandez

Player Performance Evaluation Team Management Strategy Financial Criticism of Sports Contracts

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What to know about Player Performance Evaluation

PHOENIX — What if Edwin Diaz’s problems were never the loose bodies that were removed from his elbow four months ago?

Claims checked 19

Techniques found 2

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center0%

Right100%

1 source compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

PHOENIX — What if Edwin Diaz’s problems were never the loose bodies that were removed from his elbow four months ago?

Why it matters

What if the Dodgers burned $69 million on Diaz a year after they flushed $72 million down the toilet to sign Tanner Scott?

Common ground

“I just don’t think right now there’s a clear-cut alternative,” manager Dave Roberts said.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Exaggeration / Hyperbole: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Player Performance Evaluation story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Sasaki remains in the Dodgers’ starting rotation?
How does this story connect Player Performance Evaluation with Team Management Strategy over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/08/08/sports/if-edwin-diaz-cant-get-right-dodgers-can-tu…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 90% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Exaggeration / Hyperbole 80% confidence

Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.

Why it matters: Recognizing exaggeration / hyperbole helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 19 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 9

check_circle Corroborated 4

info Single Source 2

help Insufficient Evidence 2

cancel Disputed 1

verified Verified By Reference 1

schedule

Claim 1: “Sasaki remains in the Dodgers’ starting rotation”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 2: “the Dodgers two outs from ending their season-worst losing streak at six games on Friday night, only for him to serve up a walk-off, two-run home run to Ryan Waldschmidt in a 4-3 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.”

CORROBORATED

Web search results confirm that Ryan Waldschmidt hit a walk-off two-run home run off Edwin Díaz in a 4-3 victory for the Diamondbacks on a Friday night.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2026 Los Angeles Dodgers season is the 137th season for the Los Angeles Dodgers franchise in Major League Baseball (MLB), their 69th season in Los Angeles, California, and their 65th season playin…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Los_Angeles_Dodgers_seaso…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The following is a list of past and current players who have played in at least one game for the Arizona Diamondbacks franchise. Players in Bold are members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_Diamondbacks_all-time_…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Below are the full rosters, including the coaching staffs, of all 30 Major League Baseball teams. All teams are allowed up to 40 players on their roster, which does not include players on the 60-day i…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Major_League_Baseball_…

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 3: “career-high 129 ⅓ innings he pitched for the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese league in 2022.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 4: “Tyler Glasnow on a minor-league rehabilitation assignment.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 5: “Sasaki threw 35 fastballs, and 17 of them were clocked at 99 mph or faster, and six of them 100 mph or faster.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 6: “the three-time All-Star”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of general Wikipedia entries for the name 'Edwin' and a musician, providing no information regarding Edwin Díaz's All-Star status.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The name Edwin means "wealth-friend". It comes from Old English ēad (wealth, good fortune) and Old English wine (friend). [1] . Thus the Old English form is Ēadwine, a name widely attested in early me…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Edwin Ghazal, known as Edwin is a Canadian alternative rock singer from Toronto. He is the lead vocalist for the Canadian rock band I Mother Earth as well as a solo artist and the lead singer for the …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_(musician)

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Edwin is a digital learning platform that combines curriculum-linked content, interactive tools, and dedicated support to transform classroom engagement and empower educators and students to achieve t…
https://www.edwin.app/

info

Claim 7: “he was activated from the 60-day injured list.”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence for this claim consists of general Wikipedia entries for the name 'Edwin' and a musician, providing no information regarding Edwin Díaz's injury status or activation from the IL.

travel_explore

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Claim 8: “Diaz has given up runs in three of the four games he has pitched.”

DISPUTED

Sources provide conflicting data: one source states he allowed runs in five of seven appearances, while another mentions he gave up runs in three of four games. The specific claim 'three of four' is mentioned in one source but contradicted by another's 'five of seven'.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Diaz has played a big role in all that losing. He has allowed at least one run in five of his seven appearances since returning from the IL, and he has blown a save in three of his last four appearanc…
https://defector.com/more-like-edlose-diaz

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Díaz entered mid-August having blown three saves in four appearances, turning several late-game leads into unusually tense ninth innings. When did Edwin Díaz return from elbow surgery?
https://ellieshirt.com/edwin-diaz-dodgers-blown-saves-i-surv…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — In his past three appearances, Diaz has allowed seven runs and seven hits in 2 1/3 innings. That performance has shaken the reliever's confidence to the point that Mets manager Carlos Mendoza told rep…
https://www.aol.co.uk/edwin-diazs-future-mets-closer-0007183…

schedule

Claim 9: “he has registered a 2.40 ERA and averaged six innings over his last five starts.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 10: “deploying Roki Sasaki as his closer... Like he did last October.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

While sources discuss Roki Sasaki's role as a potential closer or starter for the Dodgers, there is no specific evidence confirming Dave Roberts used him as a closer in October of the previous year.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers season was the 136th season for the Los Angeles Dodgers franchise in Major League Baseball (MLB), their 68th season in Los Angeles, California, and their 64th season playi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Los_Angeles_Dodgers_seaso…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2025 National League Championship Series (NLCS) was the best-of-seven playoff in Major League Baseball's 2025 postseason between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers for the National …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_National_League_Champions…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Dodgers

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 11: “he limited the Diamondbacks to two runs in six innings”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 12: “he underwent surgery to clean up his elbow.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the search results confirming that Edwin Díaz underwent surgery to clean up his elbow.

help

Claim 13: “he averaged 97.3 mph with his fastball, a marked improvement from his season average of 95.9 mph.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the search results regarding specific fastball velocity numbers (97.3 mph vs 95.9 mph) for Edwin Díaz.

schedule

Claim 14: “Tarik Skubal joining the team”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

check_circle

Claim 15: “the Dodgers two outs from ending their season-worst losing streak at six games”

CORROBORATED

A cross-reference from NY Post and web search results confirm the Dodgers suffered a season-worst losing streak of six games (which then extended to seven).

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2011–12 Los Angeles Dodgers ownership dispute was a period of turmoil at the management level of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization over parts of the 2011 and 2012 seasons. The dispute began on …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011–12_Los_Angeles_Dodgers_ow…

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+ 4 more evidence sources

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Claim 16: “the Dodgers burned $69 million on Diaz”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources (The Athletic, Yardbarker, and a TikTok analysis) confirm the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69 million contract.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Edwin Orlando Díaz Laboy (born March 22, 1994) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Seatt…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Díaz

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Edwin Gabriel Ríos (born April 21, 1994) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball third baseman and first baseman who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Lo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Ríos

+ 3 more evidence sources

schedule

Claim 17: “Blake Snell about to be activated from the injured list”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 18: “Sasaki has already pitched 105 innings”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

check_circle

Claim 19: “they flushed $72 million down the toilet to sign Tanner Scott”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources confirm the Dodgers signed Tanner Scott to a four-year contract worth $72 million.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Below is a partial list of Minor League Baseball players in the Los Angeles Dodgers system.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_Dodgers_minor_leag…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Tanner Alexander Scott (born July 22, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Baltimore O…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanner_Scott

+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.