MILWAUKEE -- The Dodgers added a fresh arm to their bullpen by calling up former All-Star closer Alexis Díaz ahead of Tuesday night's game against the Brewers. Once Díaz gets into a game, it will be his first Major League action since being traded from the Reds in late May.
Right-hander Julian Fernández, who allowed two runs in two innings after being selected by the Dodgers before Monday's 9-1 loss to the Brewers, was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City in a corresponding move.
Díaz struggled mightily with Cincinnati before the trade, both in the Majors and in Triple-A after he was demoted with the hope he could rediscover the skill that made him an All-Star closer in 2023, when he saved 37 games.
In six big league appearances this season, the 28-year-old Díaz -- younger brother of Mets closer Edwin Díaz -- pitched to a 12.00 ERA.
When the Dodgers acquired Díaz, he spent more than two weeks working on his delivery at the club's player development complex in Arizona. Díaz joined Oklahoma City in mid-June and went scoreless in his first three outings with the Comets before command issues flared up. He allowed five runs in his last three outings (1 1/3 innings) and, in all, he posted a 9.64 ERA in six appearances (4 2/3 innings) with Oklahoma City, with three strikeouts and one save.
"There’s been some good, some not so good," manager Dave Roberts said. "Just trying to be consistent with the delivery. I think the arm still works. The stuff is still good. But the consistency of strike-throwing is what we haven’t seen yet from Alexis."
The Dodgers were forced to use five relievers after Yoshinobu Yamamoto couldn't make it out of the first inning in Monday's blowout loss. L.A.'s bullpen has struggled to a 24th-ranked 4.46 ERA this season, and with several injuries to starters, the relief corps has racked up an MLB-leading 407 1/3 innings.
Roberts said he thinks Díaz could cover more than one inning if needed, and he's not expecting to use the former All-Star in high-leverage situations early on in his Dodgers tenure.