Disclosed is a combustor including a baffle plate having at least one through baffle hole and at least one fuel nozzle extending through the at least one through baffle hole. At least one diluent shroud is affixed to the at least one baffle plate and is configured to guide a diluent flow toward a mixing chamber of the at least one fuel nozzle. Further disclosed is a method for introducing a diluent flow into a mixing chamber of a fuel nozzle including urging the diluent flow from a plenum through a baffle plate gap between a baffle plate and an outer surface of the fuel nozzle. The diluent flow is directed via at least one diluent shroud extending from the baffle plate toward a plurality of air swirler holes extending through a fuel nozzle tip. The diluent flow is flowed through the plurality of air swirler holes into the mixing chamber.