On a night marked by missteps for the Los Angeles Dodgers, a promising development emerged from the bullpen as Edwin Díaz delivered a strong performance in relief during Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves. Díaz, acquired by the Dodgers last December amid high expectations as the team’s designated closer, pitched a flawless inning, suggesting he may soon be ready to assume the ninth-inning role in the playoffs.

Díaz entered the game in the sixth inning and retired all three batters he faced, striking out two with fastballs clocked at 100 and 101 mph. It was his first outing since returning from a combination of elbow surgery and a neck injury that limited him to fewer than 19 innings during the regular season. The left-hander’s performance brought relief to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who has been gradually integrating Díaz back into the bullpen with an eye toward eventually deploying him in save situations.

“I’m always ready,” Díaz said when asked about closing games. Roberts echoed that sentiment, noting the recent outing was a “big spot” and that Díaz “did what he needed to do.” “You could see him closing, yes. I could see him closing,” Roberts said.

The Dodgers signed Díaz for $69 million in the offseason, describing him as an elite and dominant closer. Nevertheless, injuries delayed his impact during the regular season, forcing other relievers such as Tanner Scott and Roki Sasaki to fill the closing role in the postseason. Scott, who converted 25 of 29 save opportunities during Díaz’s absence, struggled in his appearance on Saturday, giving up a single and a home run. Sasaki inherited the closer role for Sunday’s game but faced challenges, allowing three baserunners before settling down to complete two scoreless innings.

While Sunday’s outing did not pit Díaz against the heart of the Braves’ lineup, his velocity and command offered encouraging signs. Over his 20 postseason batters faced, he has yielded only one hit and one walk while striking out 11. Díaz acknowledged the unique pressures of playoff baseball but emphasized his readiness to pitch in any inning. “In playoff baseball, every inning counts, so if I come in the fifth or the ninth, it would play out the same for me,” he said.

Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas praised Díaz’s professionalism and team-first mindset amid the high-stakes environment. “You put the egos aside as soon as you walk into this clubhouse,” Rojas said. “He’s been a really good closer, one of the best in our generation for a long time, and it’s a credit to him to keep working hard.”

Despite the positive note from Díaz’s appearance, the Dodgers fell short in Sunday’s contest, challenged by steady pitching from Braves opener Ray Kerr and defensive miscues, including a costly misplay by outfielder Teoscar Hernández. The team was unable to capitalize with runners in scoring position, going 0-for-8 in those opportunities.

As the Dodgers look ahead to pivotal games in the Division Series, the reassurance provided by Díaz’s return underscores a possible turning point for the team’s bullpen. While the closer role is yet to be officially reclaimed, the recent performance suggests Díaz is moving closer to fulfilling the expectations that accompanied his offseason signing.