Tanner Scott was envisioned by the Los Angeles Dodgers as a premier option for high-leverage situations. That expectation hasn’t materialized yet.
The Dodgers have situated the southpaw on the 15-day injured list due to an inflamed left elbow this Tuesday, summoning reliever Alexis Díaz from Triple-A Oklahoma City to fill the void. This marks Scott’s initial injured list stint since 2021, spanning three different franchises.
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The roster adjustment coincided with Scott’s birthday.
The injury surfaced during Scott’s ninth-inning appearance on Monday against the Minnesota Twins. After a slider bounced awkwardly, Scott exhibited signs of discomfort, prompting a visit from manager Dave Roberts, who replaced Scott with Kirby Yates mid-at-bat. The Dodgers ultimately secured a 5-2 victory.
Roberts mentioned postgame that Scott experienced a sharp sensation in his arm prior to his final delivery and would undergo an MRI on Tuesday, according to Sonja Chen of MLB.com:
“I’m uncertain of the specific pitch, but he indicated he felt a sting,” Roberts stated. “I suspect it occurred just before I approached the mound. There was an X-ray, there was manual testing, and both returned favorable results. That’s encouraging.”
Roberts stated Tuesday that the team remained awaiting the MRI outcomes while placing Scott on the IL, but the manager voiced optimism about Scott’s condition relative to initial concerns.
Irrespective of health, Scott’s season has largely been underwhelming. Following his impressive performance in the NLDS last year, the Dodgers secured him with a four-year, $72 million contract, positioning him among baseball’s highest-compensated relievers.
In return, they have encountered the reliever currently leading MLB in blown saves, totaling seven.
Scott hasn’t been entirely ineffective — he conceded just a single earned run throughout April and two during June — but his lack of consistency has contributed to the Dodgers’ bullpen becoming a vulnerability, contrasting with expectations of elite status after the offseason’s significant acquisitions. It’s worth noting that Scott’s walk rate, historically a challenge, has noticeably decreased since joining the Dodgers, but his increased zone pitches have occasionally allowed batters to capitalize.
Moving forward, the Dodgers aim to stabilize the situation while Scott is on the sidelines. With just over two months remaining before the postseason commences, their timeline is limited.
