Dodgers put Tanner Scott on IL, but hopeful he

The Dodgers still need, and need, to purchase a reliever in the next 9 days.

But, at some level after July 31 commerce deadline, they’re hopeful of including Tanner Scott back into the bullpen combine too.

In what may very well be the newest bullet the Dodgers have dodged on the harm entrance not too long ago, Scott was put on the injured checklist Tuesday with what was initially described as “elbow inflammation” — preserving hope that his season may not be over after exiting Monday’s recreation with a “stinging sensation” in his forearm.

As of Tuesday afternoon, supervisor Dave Roberts and normal supervisor Brandon Gomes mentioned the membership was awaiting its medical workers to totally review the outcomes of an MRI examination that Scott had earlier in the day.

But both famous that Scott, who turned 31 on Tuesday, reported enchancment in his elbow in contrast to how he felt Monday, when he walked off the mound flexing his throwing arm after spiking a slider in the filth during the ninth inning of the Dodgers’ series-opening win over the Minnesota Twins.

“Tanner came in feeling pretty good,” Gomes mentioned, “so we’ll wait to see the full report and go from there.”

“I’m still hopeful that we’ll get Tanner back at some point,” Roberts added.

Scott has underwhelmed in the first season of his four-year, $72-million contract with the group, posting a 4.14 ERA in 47 outings with only 19 saves in 26 alternatives.

However, dropping him for the season would have been a important blow to a Dodgers group that has already seen key reliever Evan Phillips bear Tommy John surgical procedure, and navigated around long-term accidents to Blake Treinen (who is nearing the completion of a rehab task), Michael Kopech (who is hopeful of returning from the 60-day IL when eligible in late August) and Brusdar Graterol (who is still anticipated back from an offseason shoulder surgical procedure that has sidelined him all yr).

“He’s not throwing the baseball as well as he’s gonna be throwing the baseball,” Roberts mentioned, sustaining hope not only that Scott will return but also flash improved kind down the stretch this yr. “But just to have somebody that’s there, that takes the baseball, has been huge.”

Of course, Scott’s troubles (along with comparable scuffles from fellow offseason signing Kirby Yates) have highlighted the need for the Dodgers to goal one other high-leverage reliever at this yr’s deadline and bolster a bullpen that ranks twenty fourth in ERA and a far-and-away first in innings pitched.

Before Scott’s harm Monday, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman mentioned “any time a needle-moving player is available, we’re gonna get involved,” when requested how aggressive the group will likely be in addressing its bullpen need.

To that finish, there needs to be no scarcity of engaging choices, with as many as 9 high relievers anticipated to be accessible to some degree — from Minnesota Twins flamethrower Jhoan Durán, to multi-time All-Stars such as Emmanuel Clase of the Cleveland Guardians and David Bednar of the Pittsburgh Pirates, to established veteran closers such as the Tampa Bay Rays’ Pete Fairbanks and Baltimore Orioles’ Félix Bautista, and possibly even younger Athletics star Mason Miller.

Outside of St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Ryan Helsley, however, virtually all of this yr’s greatest reduction targets are under group control past this season.

That means acquisition prices will likely be high, at least in the eyes of a Dodgers’ entrance workplace that has long been cautious of overspending on relievers at the deadline.

“The prices are always crazy come the deadline,” Gomes mentioned. “That’s why we did everything we could this offseason to not have to be in the position to buy.”

The Dodgers do have inside depth they like.

This week, the group known as up Edgardo Henriquez, a hard-throwing right-hander who missed the beginning of the yr with a damaged foot, and Alexis Diaz, the previous All-Star nearer for the Cincinnati Reds.

Friedman also recommended that, with Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki working toward returns from harm, there may very well be surplus beginning pitchers who finally get moved into the bullpen later this yr.

“We feel like we’re gonna get to a place where we’re not gonna have enough starting pitcher spots for our starting pitching,” Friedman mentioned. “So there could be some spillover of that into the bullpen.”

However, including one other high-leverage arm to the back finish of the group stays a precedence.

Had Scott been misplaced for the yr, that burden only would’ve grown.

“Once we get Dr. [Neal] ElAttrache’s take on it, we’ll obviously have more clarity,” mentioned Roberts, who plans to go closer-by-committee in Scott’s absence. “But right now, him talking to the training staff, we feel good about it.”