Tanner Scott Emerges as Surprise Closer for Dodgers

The left-hander has found his All-Star form after a disappointing debut season in LA.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 2:05am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the motion of a baseball pitcher, with sharp planes of Dodger blue and white representing the raw energy and movement of the sport.Tanner Scott's resurgence has given the Dodgers a new late-inning weapon to complement their high-priced closer.Los Angeles Today

Tanner Scott, the Los Angeles Dodgers' left-handed reliever, has bounced back from a tough 2025 season with a strong start in 2026. After struggling to live up to expectations last year, Scott has regained his elite closer stuff, posting a 1.04 ERA and 0.58 WHIP through the first few weeks of the season. His dominant performances in high-leverage situations have some wondering if he could eventually take over the closer role from the struggling Edwin Díaz.

Why it matters

Scott's resurgence is a welcome development for the Dodgers, who faced questions about their bullpen depth after signing Díaz to a lucrative contract in the offseason. If Scott can sustain his early-season success, it could give the Dodgers more flexibility with their late-inning options and lessen the pressure on Díaz to perform.

The details

In his first outing on April 10 against the Texas Rangers, Scott entered the game in the eighth inning with the Dodgers clinging to a 5-4 lead. He proceeded to retire the side in order, including two strikeouts, using just 10 pitches. Through his first 8 2/3 innings this season, Scott has posted a 1.04 ERA, 0.58 WHIP, eight strikeouts, and zero walks.

  • On April 10, Scott recorded a dominant eight-pitch, one-hit outing against the Texas Rangers.
  • As of April 17, Scott has a 1.04 ERA, 0.58 WHIP, eight strikeouts, and zero walks through 8 2/3 innings this season.

The players

Tanner Scott

A left-handed relief pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers who is having a strong bounce-back season after struggling in his debut year with the team in 2025.

Edwin Díaz

The Dodgers' high-priced closer who has seen a concerning drop in velocity early this season, leading to speculation that Scott could eventually take over the closer role.

Andrew Friedman

The president of baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who along with the team's leadership, expressed confidence in Scott's ability to rebound this season.

Brandon Gomes

The general manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who was part of the team's leadership that predicted Scott's resurgence this year.

Dave Roberts

The manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who has shown a willingness to adjust his bullpen roles based on performance, and could potentially shift Díaz to a setup role if Scott continues to excel.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah... Tanner Scott is SO back 🔥”

— SleeperDodgers, Twitter User

What’s next

The Dodgers will continue to monitor Díaz's velocity and performance, and could potentially shift him to a setup role if Scott maintains his dominant form as the team's primary closer.

The takeaway

Tanner Scott's early-season resurgence has been a pleasant surprise for the Dodgers, who faced questions about their bullpen depth after signing Díaz to a lucrative contract. If Scott can sustain his success, it could give the Dodgers more flexibility with their late-inning options and lessen the pressure on Díaz to perform.