Manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that Diaz (neck) will move into a lower-leverage role once he returns from the injured list, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.
Diaz has given up 18 earned runs in just 13.2 innings with the Dodgers this season, so the team will plan to give him what Roberts termed as a "softer landing" once he's healthy with the goal of eventually having him reclaim the closer's role. The 32-year-old righty landed on the injured list Tuesday due to neck inflammation, but he threw a bullpen session Saturday and is expected to return around the time he's eligible to be activated Sept. 2. Tanner Scott should operate as the Dodgers' primary ninth-inning option until Diaz is healthy and the team is confident he's ready for higher-leverage work.