The Los Angeles Dodgers are anticipating the return of two key players from injury ahead of Major League Baseball’s August 3 trade deadline, offering a potential midseason boost to the team’s roster. Closer Edwin Díaz and utilityman Kiké Hernández are both progressing through their rehabilitation and expected to rejoin the active roster during the Dodgers’ upcoming homestand.

Díaz, the $69 million offseason acquisition who has been sidelined since April, is slated to be activated next Tuesday when the Dodgers open a series against the Seattle Mariners at home. The right-hander underwent surgery earlier this year to remove loose bodies from his elbow and has since been making steady progress. He is scheduled to pitch in a series of minor league rehab outings in Triple-A Oklahoma City, with appearances planned Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, pending further assessments. Manager Dave Roberts expressed confidence in Díaz’s readiness if he continues trending positively through these appearances. Prior to his injury, Díaz had struggled with an ERA exceeding 10.00, largely attributed to his elbow issues.

Also nearing a return is Hernández, who has been recovering from an oblique strain sustained in May, just two games into his comeback from offseason elbow surgery. Hernández started rehab games with Oklahoma City earlier this week and is expected to be available to rejoin the Dodgers sometime during the upcoming home stand. Roberts noted that Tuesday could be a possibility for his activation but stopped short of committing to a specific date.

Without Díaz, the Dodgers have employed a closer-by-committee approach, with Tanner Scott assuming the majority of save opportunities. Hernández’s absence has been felt in terms of defensive flexibility and veteran presence off the bench, roles that have been filled effectively by Alex Verdugo. The expected return of both players could solidify the bullpen and strengthen bench depth heading into the trade deadline.

While the bullpen and lineup may see improved stability with these returns, the Dodgers’ rotation remains uncertain. Shohei Ohtani recently threw a bullpen session as part of his recovery from a knee injury, Blake Snell is currently on a minor league rehab stint following his own elbow surgery in May, and Tyler Glasnow has not yet faced hitters since a back injury. The timeline for their returns remains unclear, adding complexity to the Dodgers’ potential moves in the coming days.