Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2025

On Monday, Tanner Scott felt a sting in his left forearm. The preliminary test results show no major injury. However, the Los Angeles Dodgers will place Scott on the IL while they wait for Dr. Neil ElAttrache to read Scott’s MRI.

Since the Dodgers won the World Series in the 2024 season, their bullpen had been overused going into this year’s spring training. The Dodgers had an abbreviated spring training since they opened the 2025 season in Tokyo, Japan.

Because the Dodgers have had a problem with the health of their starting rotation, they have leaned on their bullpen heavily. Michael Kopech hasn’t been available for almost all of the season since he had a right shoulder impingement and now knee surgery. However, the Dodgers expect him back in late August.

Blake Treinen has missed three months with right forearm tightness. While he is on a rehab assignment and the Dodgers expect him back sometime this weekend or next week, they don’t know what they will get from Treinen.

The Dodgers have already lost Evan Phillips to Tommy John surgery.

The Dodgers are counting on Brusdar Graterol to return from right shoulder surgery last November. He hasn’t picked up a ball yet, but the Dodgers hope he can return in late August or early September.

Every pitcher in the bullpen for the Dodgers is overworked. When a pitcher is overworked, he is ineffective and prone to injury. The Dodgers’ bullpen has pitched over 360 innings, which is too much. The front office has done everything to lessen the stress on the bullpen.

Scott was great in the 2024 season while with the Miami Marlins and the San Diego Padres. He was a star in the NLDS since Shohei Ohtani couldn’t hit him. This season, Scott has been erratic. Sometimes, he has been brilliant, but at other times, he has been lousy. Mark Prior, the Dodgers’ pitching coach, has tried to make fine changes to Scott’s mechanics.  However, looking back on Scott’s performance, every blown save should have signaled a possible injury.

While Scott is out, Kirby Yates will assume the closer’s role. Yates has struggled with his dominant pitch, the splitter. However, unless the Dodgers trade for another high-leverage reliever.