Dodgers End Reliever’s Regular Season After Bullpen Meltdown

The Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday announced reliever Edgardo Henriquez is being put on the injured list for the rest of the regular season, an announcement that comes one day after he contributed to a blown lead against the Miami Marlins .

Henriquez is going on the IL with "low back discomfort," the team said , and pitcher Bobby Miller is being recalled to take his place.

Henriquez on Sunday gave up the first two of the Marlins' eventual six runs, with fellow relievers Tanner Scott and Brock Stewart surrendering the other four in a 6-4 walk off loss .

The hard-throwing Henriquez had been a popular choice to be the Dodgers' closer heading into the postseason, especially given Edwin Diaz's struggles in both the majors and minors , though this IL stint could complicate that.

The minimum for pitchers on the IL is 15 days, though, so his regular season is over.

That said, he still could return for the playoffs and, if healthy, he could be a key part of the Dodgers' three-peat aspirations.

What does Bobby Miller bring to the Dodgers?

Miller was out of the major leagues for more than a year, but when he returned to the Dodgers earlier this month, he performed adequately .

Miller allowed a run after he hit a batter with a pitch while the bases were loaded, but he was otherwise solid, striking out two batters over his three innings.

Unless Henriquez, one of the hardest throwing pitchers in baseball, Miller doesn't have elite fastball speed, with Baseball Savant putting his average four-seamer at 97.2 mph , while Henriquez's is over 100 mph.

Miller's fastball velocity has actually fallen a bit over the past few years, so it tracks that Miller no longer relies on his fastball as his most-thrown pitch.

In 2024, the four-seamer was by far Miller's top pitch, though the curveball edged it out in his limited 2025.

In 2026, the curveball is his most-used, followed by his sinker. The four-seamer is now his third most-thrown pitch.

The most immediate impact is that the closer by committee approach seems here to stay through the rest of the regular season at least.

Tanner Scott will likely continue to get save chances, as could relievers like Alex Vesia , but there's certainly no go-to guy as Diaz had been to start the year.

The Dodgers' aces in the starting rotation will continue to be asked to carry much of the load, and at least for now, fans will continue to hold their breath when there's a call to the bullpen with the game on the line.