Los Angeles Dodgers removed reliever Tanner Scott from their NL Division Series roster on Oct. 9, 2025, after he underwent elbow surgery. The move strips the club of a right‑handed arm that posted a 1.05 ERA in high‑leverage spots during the regular season, a figure that placed him among the top five relievers in the National League for run prevention.
Tanner Scott logged 23 appearances this year, striking out 78 batters in 68 innings, a 1.15 K/9 rate that helped the Dodgers close games in the ninth. His 9.8 K/9 in the fifth through seventh innings was the highest of any Dodger reliever and a key factor in the bullpen’s 12 holds this postseason, the most in the NL. The numbers reveal his strikeout ability was a decisive element in the series of late‑inning matchups that kept the club within one run of the lead on 71% of his outings.
Scott entered Los Angeles in 2022 on a two‑year, $7 million deal after two productive seasons with the Texas Rangers, where he established a reputation for a four‑seam fastball that routinely tops 96 mph and a sharp slider that generates a 31% swing‑and‑miss rate. In his rookie season with the Dodgers, he posted a 3.67 ERA across 58 innings, but in 2024 he refined his secondary offerings, cutting his walk rate from 4.2 to 2.9 BB/9 and earning a spot in the club’s high‑leverage rotation. His contract includes a club option for 2027, now a hot topic among the front‑office brass as the team weighs long‑term bullpen construction.
Why was Tanner Scott taken off the NLDS roster?
Team doctors diagnosed a lingering elbow strain that required arthroscopic surgery on Oct. 8, 2025. The procedure addressed a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament and inflamed synovium, injuries that had manifested in a late‑season start against the San Francisco Giants when Scott’s fastball velocity dipped to the low 90s for the first time in two years. Dodgers officials announced the decision on Oct. 9, stating the surgery would sideline him for the remainder of the postseason and likely the first two months of the 2026 season.
How will the Dodgers reshape the bullpen?
Manager Dave Roberts, known for his willingness to shuffle arms based on batter matchups, is expected to lean on left‑hander Blake Treinen and rookie right‑hander Brendon Little for late‑inning matchups. Treinen, who posted a 2.41 ERA in 31 games this postseason, brings a veteran’s composure and a 92‑mph fastball that complements the Dodgers’ left‑handed depth. Little, a 2024 fifth‑round pick who compiled a 3.02 ERA and 12.1 K/9 in Triple‑A Oklahoma City, will likely inherit some of Scott’s high‑leverage slots, especially against right‑handed power hitters in the Diamondbacks lineup.
Closer Josh Hader, who entered the playoffs with a 1.23 ERA and 14 saves, may also see a broader role, echoing the 2020 World Series strategy where Hader and Trevor Mayer shared ninth‑inning duties. The Dodgers have historically rotated three to four relievers in the eighth and ninth innings to keep arms fresh; this approach contributed to three of the last four World Series titles (2020, 2021, 2023). With Scott out, the club’s bullpen depth will be tested, but the combination of Treinen’s left‑handed precision and Little’s strikeout upside offers a plausible substitute.
What does history say about Los Angeles’ late‑inning options?
Los Angeles has won three of its last four World Series by rotating three to four relievers in the eighth and ninth innings. Veteran left‑hander Kenley Jansen, now a coaching assistant, helped shape that philosophy during his 12‑year tenure as the Dodgers’ closer, emphasizing pitch tunneling and early‑count aggression. The current staff hopes Treinen can emulate Jansen’s poise under pressure. According to MLB.com, the Dodgers’ collective bullpen ERA sits at 3.21 this postseason, the lowest among NL contenders, while their WHIP of 1.09 ranks second.
Comparatively, the 2018 Dodgers lost a similar high‑leverage arm—reliever Andrew Miller—to a shoulder injury just before the NLCS, and the club’s bullpen ERA jumped from 2.84 to 4.12 over the final three games. The team’s swift activation of left‑hander Zach Lee mitigated the impact, a precedent that Roberts may follow by promoting Little faster than initially planned.
Key Developments
- Scott’s surgery was performed on Oct. 8, 2025, according to the team’s medical staff. The procedure took 45 minutes and involved debridement of scar tissue and a micro‑fracture of the olecranon.
- The roster move opened a spot for left‑hander Blake Treinen, who was added to the NLDS active list and will wear uniform #58 for the remainder of the series.
- Scott’s season ERA was 3.45 with a 1.12 WHIP, his most effective year since joining the Dodgers in 2022. His FIP of 3.08 suggests the low ERA reflects genuine performance rather than luck.
- The Dodgers’ bullpen has recorded 12 holds this postseason, a league‑leading total that underscores the importance of depth. Holds per game (0.86) exceed the NL average of 0.54 by 60%.
- Statcast data from ESPN shows the Dodgers’ relievers have averaged 94.3 mph fastball velocity this playoff run, with a spin‑rate of 2,300 rpm on average, placing them in the top‑third for swing‑and‑miss potential.
- In the two NLDS games Scott appeared in, he delivered three scoreless innings and struck out five batters, maintaining a 0.00 ERA and a 2.00 K/9 in postseason play.
What’s next for the Dodgers?
With Scott out, the Dodgers must rely on a deeper rotation and a re‑engineered bullpen to navigate the upcoming games against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks enter the series with a potent right‑handed core—Christian Walker (28 HR, .274 AVG) and Gabriel Moreno (13 HR, .312 OBP)—making left‑handed depth critical. Analysts note that the Dodgers’ left‑handed options, Treinen and veteran left‑hander Tony Gonsolin (who is slated for a relief role this series), could neutralize Arizona’s power surge, but the loss of Scott’s strikeout ability may test the club’s late‑inning resilience.
General manager Andrew Friedman said the front office will monitor the workload of Treinen and Little closely, aiming to avoid overtaxing the arms as the series progresses. He added that the club’s analytics department is reviewing Statcast spin‑rate trends to determine whether a higher‑spin fastball can substitute for Scott’s swing‑and‑miss slider in high‑leverage situations.
Should the series extend to a decisive Game 5, Dodgers’ coaching staff have identified a three‑man rotation for the ninth inning: Hader as primary closer, Treinen for left‑handed matchups, and Little as the swing‑and‑miss specialist. This mirrors the 2023 NLCS approach that yielded a 0.88 ERA in the final three games.
Ultimately, the Dodgers’ ability to adapt will hinge on the depth of their bullpen talent pipeline, the strategic deployment of left‑handed arms, and the willingness of veterans like Hader to shoulder additional innings. If the club can preserve its league‑leading holds metric while limiting runs in the ninth, the loss of Tanner Scott may prove a manageable setback rather than a decisive blow.
What type of surgery did Tanner Scott undergo?
Scott underwent an elbow arthroscopy to address a lingering strain, a procedure that typically requires a six‑to‑eight‑week recovery period.
How many postseason games has Tanner Scott pitched for the Dodgers?
Before his removal, Scott appeared in two NLDS games, delivering three scoreless innings and striking out five batters.
Who will replace Tanner Scott in the Dodgers’ bullpen?
Left‑hander Blake Treinen was activated to fill the roster spot, while rookie Brendon Little is expected to see increased usage in high‑leverage situations.
