A Costly Mistake in High Leverage
Tanner Scott's dominant season as the Dodgers' closer hit a significant speed bump on May 30, when the left-hander surrendered 3 runs on 3 hits and 1 home run in a blown save that resulted in his second loss of the season. The outing was particularly jarring given Scott's exceptional performance throughout 2026, where he has posted a 2.19 ERA across 26 appearances while converting 5 saves.
"I gave up three tonight and I left a pitch," Scott said after the game. "I was trying to go up and I left it more on the plate and it wasn't out of the strike zone on two strikes and got me."
The Anatomy of a Blown Save
Scott's struggles on May 30 centered around command issues that have been largely absent from his repertoire this season. The reliever threw 19 pitches with 16 strikes, suggesting his location rather than his strike-throwing ability was the culprit. His season statistics paint the picture of a pitcher who has been remarkably efficient, posting a 0.69 WHIP while striking out 28 batters in 24.7 innings.
"We were trying to go up and I thought I could get it high enough and I left it too much in the zone and just bad pitch," Scott explained, acknowledging the tactical approach that backfired in the crucial moment.
Context of Excellence
The May 30 performance stands in stark contrast to Scott's recent body of work. Prior to that outing, his game log shows a pattern of dominance: a save on May 29 with 1 strikeout over a clean inning, followed by effective outings on May 27, May 24, and May 23 where he combined for 7 strikeouts across 3 innings while allowing just 2 hits total.
Scott's season numbers reflect his value to the Dodgers' bullpen construction. With just 3 walks issued across his 26 appearances, he has demonstrated the kind of strike-zone command that makes closers effective in high-leverage situations. His 28 strikeouts in 24.7 innings showcase the swing-and-miss stuff that has made him a reliable late-game option.
Moving Forward
Despite the frustrating outing, Scott maintained perspective on the temporary setback. "Yeah, I mean tomorrow's a new day," he said, embodying the short memory that successful relievers must possess.
With his ERA still sitting at 2.19 and his overall body of work remaining strong, Scott's May 30 struggles appear to be an aberration rather than a concerning trend. The Dodgers will likely continue to lean on the left-hander in save situations, banking on the command and stuff that have made him effective in 24 of his 26 appearances this season.