Tanner Scott, a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, was placed on the 15-day injured list due to inflammation in his left elbow. He exited Monday’s game mid-at-bat against Ryan Jeffers after experiencing discomfort, which led to an MRI that revealed no structural ligament damage. This positive news has made Scott optimistic about returning to the Dodgers’ pitching staff later this season.
Scott shared his thoughts on the MRI findings with Kirsten Watson of SportsNet LA, expressing relief after the test cleared him of any serious injury. He described the moment of pain as unexpected since he has never encountered an arm issue in his career before.
“Better than we expected, and I’ll see how it feels in the next couple days and it’s a positive outcome. When it was happening, I had no idea what was going on, because I’ve never had an arm issue in my entire career… after today, it gave me a clear head.” —Tanner Scott, Dodgers Pitcher
Dodgers’ Roster Challenges Leading Into Trade Deadline
With the MLB trade deadline approaching in just over a week, the Dodgers face growing concerns about their pitching depth amidst several injuries, including Scott’s temporary absence. Despite this, the team’s general manager, Brandon Gomes, reaffirmed the front office’s commitment to maintaining the core roster that was assembled during the offseason.
Gomes acknowledged the high cost of acquiring new players at the deadline, which was a major reason for the team’s efforts to build roster stability earlier in the year. Meanwhile, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed the organization remains open to making strategic trades if necessary, especially for relief pitchers who can perform in high-pressure situations.
“The prices are always crazy come the Deadline. That’s why we did everything we could this offseason to not have to be in the position to buy… as of now, our stance hasn’t changed on needing to go out and get additional pieces.” —Brandon Gomes, Dodgers General Manager
“I do think that we’ve shown in the past, if there’s a trade that needs to be made for a high-leverage guy, we’ll do that.” —Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager
Historic Moment: Rich Hill and Justin Turner’s Unique MLB Appearance
On Tuesday, two veteran players, former Dodgers teammates Rich Hill and Justin Turner, made an unusual mark in baseball history. Hill, pitching for the Kansas City Royals in his debut at age 45, faced Turner, now 40, who successfully stole third base during the game. This marked the first instance since 2007 that both the base stealer and the pitcher in the same at-bat were over 40 years old.
Hill holds the distinction of being the oldest pitcher to start a major league game since Jamie Moyer threw at age 49 in 2012. Additionally, Hill joined Edwin Jackson, another former Dodger, as one of only two players to have appeared for 14 different MLB teams.
ESPN’s Jesse Rogers noted the rarity of Turner’s steal against Hill, highlighting the impressive feat in the context of their ages and careers.
40 year old Justin Turner just stole third base on 45 year old Rich Hill. Man, that was a fun sentence to write.
Outlook: What’s Next for Tanner Scott and the Dodgers
While Tanner Scott focuses on his recovery and hopes for a return before the season ends, the Dodgers continue to evaluate their roster options in anticipation of the trade deadline. Scott’s optimistic MRI results offer a silver lining for a pitching staff that has faced setbacks this season.
The organization’s leadership has emphasized patience and strategic decision-making regarding any potential acquisitions, aiming to preserve the team‘s core while addressing critical needs if necessary. Meanwhile, veteran players like Rich Hill and Justin Turner continue to defy age expectations, contributing to a season full of notable storylines.