The Los Angeles Dodgers are in the postseason once again and have also clinched the NL West title. It's been another good year for the Dodgers, but there's still one issue with the team that isn't going to go away anytime soon.
That issue has been the bullpen's woes. While Clayton Kershaw and Roki Sasaki will come out of the bullpen this October, the overall group still isn't the Dodgers' strength heading into the postseason. But of the struggling relievers, one stands out: Tanner Scott.
Bill Plunket of The Orange County Register shared a quote from Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star Geraldo Perdomo, who, while not outright saying it, called Scott predictable after his walk-off hit in the Diamondbacks-Dodgers series.
Tanner Scott was called predictable by an MLB star
"He has a good fastball," Perdomo said of Scott. "I don't know why he doesn't use it more. I saw the at-bat against Vargas; he threw six of seven sliders. I said he's going to do the same thing to me. He threw a ton of sliders, I don't know why. I was ready for that slider."
Being predictable as a pitcher is about the worst thing that could happen. A batter knowing what's coming is a massive advantage for a hitter. With Scott only having a fastball and a slider, if he decides not to use one, he's an incredibly predictable pitcher to face.
While Scott signed a big $72 million deal in the offseason and was expected to be a focal point of the bullpen, if he continues to be predictable, as Perdomo called out, Scott shouldn't see high-leverage usage in the postseason.
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When it matters most, the Dodgers can't have a pitcher on the mound who's tipping pitches, or in this case, is very predictable. Either would result in a disaster, and for Scott, who has an MLB-worst 10 blown saves this season, he's been a liability for Los Angeles.
The Dodgers' quest to repeat as World Series champions was never going to be easy, but with Scott's struggles, the team is now down a key reliever come October. He can't be trusted in big spots, as his predictability can lose the team a game this postseason.
To go along with Scott's predictability and his struggles, his lack of confidence is also leading the lefty reliever on a downward spiral. Even though a lot was invested in Scott this winter, the Dodgers should be prepared to use him less during the 2025 postseason.
Scott is predictable and, therefore, a liability for Los Angeles this October. While he'll still make the postseason roster, Scott shouldn't be used in high-leverage situations until he is confident and can become more unpredictable for hitters on the mound.
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