DENVER — The Dodgers are putting closer Edwin Díaz on the injured list for the second time this season, this time with inflammation on the right side of his neck, manager Dave Roberts said before the game against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday.
The Dodgers are going to have Dr. Robert Watkins, who specializes in spine injuries, examine at Díaz’s neck in L.A. on Wednesday morning, Roberts said. He’s set to undergo imaging.
“It’s something he felt [Monday] night,” Roberts said before the Dodgers’ 7-6 win against the Rockies on Tuesday. “We don’t know if it’s something that has been there the last, call it, week or whatever but it showed its head last night. So we’re going to address it.”
The move comes after Díaz gave up nine runs and recorded three blown saves in a span of six appearances.
“I know Edwin is — I don’t know if it’s encouraged, but just know that there could be a reason why the stuff is not playing like it has in the past,” Roberts said. “And the neck, obviously, there’s ties with the whole body, the arm, and all that stuff matters. So I’m personally excited to kind of find something that kind of make us understand what’s going on.”
“We’ll know more after seeing Dr. Watkins,” Roberts said, “but given where he’s at, I don’t see a situation where he’d be out for the year.”
Díaz has only made 16 appearances for the Dodgers this season, recording an 11.85 ERA and 6.01 FIP. He spent three months on the IL after undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow in late April.
After collecting a save in a 4-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on July 29 in his first appearance back, Díaz was unable to show command in subsequent outings. He blew saves on consecutive days against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Aug. 7-8, and then blew a 4-2 lead last Thursday against the Milwaukee Brewers — which proved critical for the Dodgers in losing the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Brewers as the division leaders jostle for playoff seeding.
During the Dodgers’ 11-5 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Monday night, Díaz pitched the ninth inning and gave up three runs and four hits.
With Díaz no longer an option in save situations, left-hander Tanner Scott is set to slide into that role.
“I just wait for the phone to ring, I don’t care when,” Scott said after a four-out save Tuesday. “You get the adrenaline rush when your name’s called and just go out there and pitch.”
On Tuesday, Roberts turned to Scott to get the final out of the eighth inning, with runners on first and second in a two-run game. He induced left-handed pinch hitter Brett Sullivan to ground out to third.
Back out for the ninth he gave up a one-out double to Jake McCarthy’s and a two-out RBI single to Willi Castro. But the run was of no consequence.
“He’s been great,” Roberts said of Scott’s contributions this year, in multiple roles. “Tanner doesn’t complain. He’s always ready, wants to pitch, wants to help his teammates, his team. And certainly, given how last year went, for him to come back and right the ship, he’s been our most consistent reliever by far. I trust him, and I feel like you can use him in any situation.”
The Dodgers also recalled right-hander Emmet Sheehan on Tuesday as a multi-inning option out of the bullpen. Sheehan, optioned to triple A at the trade deadline for a reset, made two starts for Oklahoma City.
“I got the hang of it a little bit last year in the playoffs,” Sheehan said of pitching in relief. “I have the routine that I would have for starting, and that I have for coming out of the bullpen. So comfortable doing either one or whatever they want me to do.”
Ohtani may be ready for next step
Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani appeared to throw two simulated innings in his bullpen session on Tuesday, for a total of about 45-50 pitches.
When Roberts asked how it went, he said Ohtani gave him a thumbs up.
Roberts did not rule out the possibility of Ohtani throwing live batting practice back in Los Angeles as his next step.
“I could see that,” Roberts said.
Serving as the designated hitter Tuesday, Ohtani hit a two-run homer in the third inning. It was his third homer in two games and his 30th of the season. He’s reached the 30 home-run mark in six straight seasons.
“You’ve got to be available, you’ve got to be a high-performer,” Roberts said of the feat. “And Shohei this series is back to being who he is. I like the at-bat quality. I like the swing decisions. And obviously he’s hitting homers out with breaking balls, fastballs, a curveball tonight. When he goes, it certainly adds a lot of energy to our offense.”
She also explained which products people can get better deals on at supermarkets
11:35, 17 Aug 2026Updated 11:59, 17 Aug 2026
Grace Forell explained how people should take advantage of some bargains at Poundland(Image: ITV)
An ITV consumer expert has highlighted six things everyone should buy in Poundland – including one food staple which is 44 per cent less. Grace Forell, who regularly appears on ITV’s This Morning, explained how people should not do their weekly shop in the high street discount store – but take advantage of some bargains.
She said the best value categories tend to be big brand toiletries and cleaning products. If you’re loyal to brands like Nivea, Head & Shoulders, Colgate, Flash, Astonish, Elbow Grease and added ‘you’ll often find Poundland is the best place to buy. ‘
However, she added: “It’s less impressive when it comes to snacks and store cupboard items, as you’ll often get a better deal at the supermarket on multi-buys. “
Six Poundland staples:
She said Flash cleaning spray is £2 in Poundland – and between £2.44 – £3.35 elsewhere – a potential saving of 40%
Astonish Sprays – white vinegar and mould and mildew stain remover are cheap there – average saving of around 30%
Big brand toiletries are good value – Grace highlighted a Nivea day cream for £2 – with it being £5,50 to £6 elsewhere – saving 65%.
Colgate toothpaste is normally cheaper at Poundland. Grace highlighted Max White Sparkle Diamonds toothpased currently “£2 – elsewhere it’s £2.33 – £3.75 – a saving of up to 47%.
Sure deodorant and Head and Shoulders shampoo usually a bargain
Heiz Baked Beans – single tin £1 – normally £.138 – £1.80 e;sewhere -a potential saving of 44%/ She added: “A single tin of Hienz beans for £1 is hard to come by and it’s one of Poundland’s standout bargains – but if you’re buying multipack, supermarkets are often better value.”
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She explained: “Remember, Poundland is less a place to do a full weekly show and more of a specialist bargain stop. It’s particularly good for branded toiletries with high supermarket mark-ups, cult cleaning products and specialist stain removers, a handful of pantry staples, and emergency top-ups that would cost more in a convenience store.”
Her golden rules:
Always check the unit price. A lower shelf price doesn’t mean better value if the pack is smaller (you sometimes see this at Poundland).
Don’t assume everything is cheaper. Chocolate, crisps and soft drinks are often better bought on supermarket loyalty offers.
Be wary of multipacks. Poundland sometimes wins on individual items, but supermarkets usually come out ahead on family-sized packs.
Stock up on genuine bargains. If you find a branded product you use regularly and it’s substantially cheaper, buying a spare makes sense.
You can pick up single tins of Heinz baked beans for £1 though – which is consistently the best price (per unit) around.
One thing is for sure: while it isn’t the place to do a full weekly shop, it offers much better value than most convenience stores.
For more articles, read Grace Forell on Substack for free here.
Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing went through the second-opinion carousel — “opinions on opinions,” as he put it — after his elbow started bothering him on Aug. 2 while playing catch in the outfield before a game against the Red Sox.
“We then come to an agreement that surgery is not necessary,” Rushing said Tuesday. “So, we’re going to rehab the muscle on the inside of my forearm. And the details as to timeline, I don’t really have any for you. But at the same time, I can say it feels 10 times better than it did a week ago. And as soon as I can be throwing a baseball, I will be.”
Rushing said that Sunday was the first time he’d felt pain while throwing — “didn’t feel a pop or anything, but felt pretty serious as it kind of tightened up on me a little bit.”
Manager Dave Roberts said last week that Rushing’s MRI scan showed a slight ulnar collateral ligament tear. Rushing added Tuesday that something similar had appeared on previous scans, without symptoms.
“It’s something we’ve known about, but it hasn’t gotten worse over the years,” Rushing said. “And so it puts my arm in just a fine spot, and obviously, we just worry about the muscle.”
Strengthening the surrounding muscle and addressing the inflammation in the area should help stabilize and take pressure off the inside of his elbow.
On Monday, Rushing started swinging, which he said didn’t bother his elbow. His eventual throwing progression will give him and the Dodgers more information on his availability the rest of the year and any potential offseason interventions — “I don’t think [surgery] will be necessary,” Rushing reiterated when asked specifically about the offseason.
While Roberts said last week that he thought the chances of Rushing catching again were “very small,” Rushing was more optimistic.
“Yeah, if I can throw, I’m going to be able to catch,” he said. “So I’m not too worried about it. And two months at least of playing baseball, and that’s what I’m going to worry about at the moment. And when the season’s over with, and we have another World Series, then we can worry about what the next step is.”
Klein hopes to avoid surgery
Dodgers relief pitcher Will Klein.
(Kyusung Gong / AP)
Dodgers reliever Will Klein hopes to avoid surgery to remove the loose bodies in his right elbow.
“We’re going to rehab and let the inflammation calm down and get back to where it’s manageable this year and try to build back up and see where that puts us,” he said. “It’s feeling a lot better right now. So that’s encouraging.”
Klein has been on the injured list since the start of the month, with what the Dodgers called right elbow discomfort. The Athletic was the first to report a more specific diagnosis.
Klein said he’d known about the small pieces of bone in his elbow, which had previously been manageable. But they’d calcified and become larger, causing inflammation.
His exact timeline to return is in flux, but Klein is scheduled to start throwing weighted plyo balls this week.
“I’m going to do everything I can to get back and pitch again this year,” he said.
The five words every baseball soul outside of Los Angeles dreaded hearing.
The Dodgers are going to three-peat.
The six words that every baseball soul everywhere must now acknowledge.
It’s over. The chase for baseball’s best pitcher, the hunt by baseball’s best team, the pennant race, the World Series, all of it.
It’s over. The Dodgers just stole it all again, three months early but right on time, their third consecutive championship cemented when they traded for the Detroit Tigers’ Tarik Skubal, the two-time defending American League Cy Young Award winner and quite simply the best pitcher in baseball.
Everybody wanted him. The Dodgers were the only team with enough assets to get him. Of course they were. They always are.
And in return, they surely will win a third consecutive championship against a withering and overmatched group of pretenders that could add Skubal only in their dreams.
He cost the Dodgers minor leaguers Zyhir Hope, River Ryan and Brady Smith. So? None of the three is considered a top-five Dodgers prospect in what appears to be a scandalously one-sided deal.
He could be a free agent this winter and may cost $400 million to retain. So? The Dodgers have that much in their couch cushions.
The Dodgers’ injury-scarred rotation needed a stud starting pitcher like Skubal and, as this column noted last month, there was no excuse for baseball’s wealthiest and smartest team not to grab him.
So the Dodgers grabbed him. Of course they did. They are rushing full bore toward that three-peat and, to the delight of the most appreciative fans in baseball, nothing is going to get in their way.
“Everything that we do is in mind with the partnership that we have with our fans, the 50,000 people that come out here every day,” said Andrew Friedman, Dodgers president of baseball operations, in a Sunday afternoon news conference, later adding, “And so for us, it’s about doing our part to try to back up our end as much as we can in partnership with them to hopefully have another parade.”
Friedman has won many trades in the dozen years he’s run the Dodgers, but this may be his greatest swindle yet. Think about it. He acquired the hottest pitcher on the market for three mostly unheralded prospects nearly two full days before the trade deadline.
Geez, Detroit, you think you could have taken more time to scour the market? And with the prospect-rich Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves in the mix, you think you could have done better than one good outfielder, one injury-prone 28-year-old pitcher and one anonymous dude going nowhere?
Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, can’t wait to see Tarik Skubal “in Dodger blue.”
(Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
The Dodger player reaction was shock, disbelief then joy.
“They were fired up, obviously,” said Friedman.
Nobody was more excited than Friedman, who showed rare emotion when talking about his latest triumph.
“Watching Tarik Skubal pitch in the playoffs last year was must-see TV,” he said. “I was in awe watching the energy, the dominance he exhibited there, and I can’t wait to see it in Dodger blue.”
The rest of baseball will hate them for this. They don’t care. Critics will say this is yet another example of how they are ruining the game. They could give a rip.
A move like this — the insanely rich getting insanely richer — could be cited this winter as a reason for the game shutting down over a labor dispute. Not their problem.
With a sore Shohei Ohtani looking increasingly doubtful for a meaningful October on the mound, with Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow still sidelined because of injuries, Skubal can slide into the No. 2 spot in a rotation that, if everyone gets healthy, could wind up being the best in baseball history.
Tarik Skubal was a two-time Cy Young winner for the Detroit Tigers.
There are still questions, even for a team that has all the answers.
Skubal is a tremendous postseason pitcher, with a 2.04 ERA in six starts, but will his surgically repaired left elbow survive through his third postseason?
After pushing 200 innings the last two seasons, he underwent a newfangled minimally invasive procedure on May 6 to remove a loose body from his elbow. Recovery time for a similar surgery performed the old-fashioned way is two to three months, but he was back on the mound in a game just a month later.
Will this new operation hold up? Time will tell, but the Dodgers will be holding their breath.
After Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Skubal, the Dodgers have another potentially big question. What do they do about Ohtani?
He’s got a balky knee, and now a painful biceps, and the Dodgers have kept him off the mound for a moment, but what happens in October?
By acquiring Skubal, the Dodgers can afford to pull Ohtani out of the rotation altogether and allow him to focus on hitting, which has taken a bit of a hit with the pitching issues. But would he accept such a move, which might feel like a demotion? Ohtani always has put winning first, but he also began the season openly acknowledging his quest for a Cy Young Award. So there’s that.
The Dodgers still will need some good fortune to round out the rotation.
Tarik Skubal returned to the mound in June after surgery to address an elbow issue.
(Jason Miller / Getty Images)
They say Snell and Glasnow are both on the verge of returning from what has essentially been season-long injuries. But, come October, they’ll both be 33, so believe only what you see.
Roki Sasaki has been tremendous since the All-Star break — that new glove has been a giant success — but he’s still never started a postseason game. And for all his surprise greatness this summer, Justin Wrobleski also has yet to start a postseason game.
It all could get interesting. But it shouldn’t be suspenseful.
Skubal solves all mysteries. Skubal ends all arguments. Skubal saves the summer.
The Dodgers are the most championship-driven and fan-devoted team in all of sports. They will do whatever it takes, however it takes, whenever it takes, to win.
