Left savior Tanner Scott has been removed from the Dodgers’ active NLDS roster, MLB announced today. As a result, he will be ineligible for the NLCS if the Dodgers advance. Colleague on the left Justin Wrobleski will take Scott’s place on the roster for the remainder of the series against the Phillies.
Administrator Dave Roberts told Sonja Chen of MLB.com that Scott had cut out a lower body abscess after noticing something during a team practice. “Kind of a lower body, minor surgery,” said Roberts (link via Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register), “But I do know he is recovering well.” The team was unsure of the severity of his injury and therefore did not make a roster change for yesterday’s game against the Phillies. Scott did not pitch in that game, which the Dodgers lost 8-2. It was originally reported that Scott was away from the team due to a personal matter, although this update from Roberts indicates that the injury also played a role in his absence.
Scott, 30, signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Dodgers after a dominant 2024 season in which he pitched a 1.75 ERA in 72 innings between the Marlins and Padres. While his 12.2% walk rate was high and a significant increase from his 2023 numbers (7.8%), Scott posted a strikeout rate well above average of 28.6%, along with a 99th percentile hard-hit percentage. Much of that success was due to his four-seam fastball. The field averaged 93 mph in 2024, with opponents hitting just .134 and hitting just .179 against the field.
Unfortunately, his first year with the Dodgers did not go as hoped. While his walk rate has improved to 7.6% and his strikeout rate is still above average at 25.2%, hitters are now feasting on his fastball with a .520 slugging percentage. His hard-hit percentage on the fastball has also increased to 46.9% after being just 28.9% last year. The result was a 4.74 ERA and a career-high 11 home runs allowed in 57 innings during the regular season, with his advanced stats, including a 4.25 xERA and a 4.70 FIP, largely supporting that performance.
Still, given his success last year and his still-above-average speed, the Dodgers would love to have Scott back as leverage for their postseason run. If his recovery continues to go well, he could be activated for the World Series roster, should the team get that far. The Dodgers are currently two games to one in the NLDS, with Tyler Glasnow starts Game 4 tonight versus the Phillies’ Christopher Sanchez. They would have to win this series and then dispatch either the Brewers or the Cubs in the best-of-seven NLCS for Scott to be eligible to make the roster.
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