The Los Angeles Dodgers invested heavily in Tanner Scott during the offseason, signing the left-handed relief pitcher to a four-year, $72 million contract. Despite entering the season as one of the game’s top relievers and immediately taking on the closer role, Scott’s pitching struggles with Dodgers strike zone command have created challenges through his first appearances in L.A.
Mixed Early Performances Highlight Scott’s Strike Zone Difficulties
Scott has collected 10 saves and boasts a strong 28-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 26 outings, showing flashes of dominance. However, his command issues have led to harder contact against him, and his average fastball velocity has dipped slightly from last year. These factors have contributed to some costly moments, including a blown three-run lead in the ninth inning against the New York Mets last Friday. Scott also faltered in a later opportunity, allowing the Cleveland Guardians to avoid a series sweep on Wednesday.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts remains confident in Scott’s pitching arsenal but acknowledges difficulties in finishing off batters.
“I think the stuff is still good,”
Roberts said.
“It’s just right now, it just seems like when there is a mistake, they find some outfield grass or put a good swing on it.”
Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior pinpointed a key issue affecting Scott’s effectiveness: lingering too frequently in the middle of the strike zone.
“Right now, he’s just kind of living in the middle, the midline of the zone,”
Prior explained.
“You leave it in that spot, more than likely they’re gonna put a good swing on it.”
This tendency undermines Scott’s ability to generate swings and misses, despite his aggressive approach.
Adjustment to Zone Command and Its Effects
The Dodgers have encouraged Scott to remain more consistently in the strike zone to reduce walks, which has succeeded in limiting free passes but also increased the number of balls put into play. The ongoing challenge for Scott, now 30 years old, is to locate his fastball and slider with greater precision in order to secure more swings and misses and avoid costly hard contact.
After his difficult outing at Citi Field against the Mets, Scott rebounded briefly by delivering a scoreless eighth inning during the Dodgers’ 7-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Memorial Day. Nonetheless, the relief pitcher was unable to maintain momentum, as evidenced by surrendering a lead in the eighth inning just days later.
Reviewing Scott’s Current Season Performance Metrics
Scott’s 2025 statistics underscore the concerns with his recent pitching struggles. Over 25.1 innings, he carries a 4.62 earned run average (ERA), a 3.27 fielding independent pitching (FIP), and a 1.11 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP). These numbers reflect consistent difficulty in preventing runs and baserunners despite his solid strikeout and walk rates.
The Dodgers staff continues searching for solutions to Scott’s inability to consistently finish off hitters once he reaches two strikes. Addressing this flaw will be crucial to maximizing his impact as the team’s closer for the remainder of the season.
Looking Ahead: The Impact of Scott’s Pitching Challenges on the Dodgers’ Bullpen
Tanner Scott’s early-season struggles highlight the risk involved in the Dodgers’ significant investment in him. If he can fine-tune his pitch location to avoid the middle of the strike zone and improve his ability to secure strikeouts in critical situations, Scott has the potential to fulfill his role as a dominant closer. However, until these adjustments are made, the Dodgers’ bullpen remains vulnerable in late-game scenarios, which could influence the team’s postseason prospects.