The Los Angeles Dodgers’ bullpen troubles worsened this week after reliever Tanner Scott was placed on the 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation. Scott’s injury came just one day after he blew a save opportunity against the Twins, continuing a troubling trend for a team that has struggled to find consistency late in games. Though Kirby Yates managed to close out that particular win, the team’s relief corps remains under pressure as the postseason approaches.
In response, the Dodgers recalled Alexis DĂaz from Triple-A in hopes of shoring up their thin bullpen. But reinforcements have been hard to come by. Several key arms remain unavailable, including Evan Phillips—out for the season following Tommy John surgery—along with Brusdar Graterol and Michael Kopech, both sidelined with lingering injuries. Free agent additions like Scott, Yates, and Blake Treinen haven’t performed at the level the team expected, leading to increased scrutiny of the bullpen’s depth and durability.
Statistically, the Dodgers’ relief staff has fallen well below expectations. At the All-Star break, they ranked 24th in ERA and 16th in FIP, while allowing an unusually high number of home runs. These struggles have put pressure on the front office to act before the July 31 trade deadline, with speculation mounting that Los Angeles could target bullpen upgrades to stabilize a shaky late-game rotation. With championship aspirations still intact, fixing the bullpen has quickly become a top priority.
