Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Tanner Scott has been the most rock-solid arm out of the bullpen for the team, finally making good on his massive contract.
Before coming to the Dodgers, Scott was one of the most dominant relievers in baseball, something that the team saw up close and personal when he was on the San Diego Padres.
Naturally, when he hit free agency during the 2024 offseason, the Dodgers came calling and dumped $72 million over the next four years, making him one of the highest-paid relievers.
However, 2025 was a rough first year as a Dodger. Scott was below replacement level, putting up a -0.6 bWAR with a 4.74 ERA, and he cost the team several games by blowing leads or making the margin too much to overcome.
May 14, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tanner Scott (66) pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The lefty ultimately failed to make the 2025 postseason roster, as he appeared to lack confidence in his pitching and was hampered by a groin injury.
However, he came into Spring Training looking like a new man.
Scott did get hit around a good deal during the preseason, but there was a lack of confidence in 2025, and he was not pounding the strike zone as much, trusting his stuff and his ability to get whiffs more.
Entering 2026, he noted that the biggest issue with his pitching was throwing so many strikes, which put more hittable balls in play.
What has changed in 2026 for Tanner Scott?
In the regular season, a quarter of the way through, Scott has looked closer to his former dominant self.
Apr 1, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tanner Scott (66) reacts after giving up a two-run home run to Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) in the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
He has pitched 18.1 innings, posted a 1.47 ERA, and has a measly 0.60 WHIP. Scott only has nine hits and three earned runs, two of which came via home runs.
His peripherals indicate that his current ERA is unsustainable. He has a 3.26 expected ERA and 2.88 FIP, but both of those numbers are miles better than how he looked in 2025.
On the whole, Scott is missing bats, making hitters, and avoiding hard contact, all of the hallmarks of a great, dependable reliever.
The Dodgers signed Edwin Diaz because of Scott’s falterings in the highest leverage spots, but with the former Met out for months, Scott has taken on the closer duty and made the most of it.
“Last year, I was pretty terrible; everyone saw that,” Scott said after getting his fourth save. “Execution’s huge, there are good hitters in every lineup. You have to execute.
“Just want to build off of each outing every time I go out there.”
If he has truly turned a corner and maintains this level all year long, Scott will be counted on during the postseason and give the bullpen something it did not have in 2025 — a true high-leverage reliever.
