It was already obvious that the Dodgers were going to pursue relief pitching at the trade deadline, which is now only single-digit days away. But the point was driven home even more with Tanner Scott suffering a forearm injury in Monday night’s win over the Twins.
Scott got the final out of the eighth inning, then got one out in the ninth while running into trouble with a walk and a hit batter. He ran the count full to Ryan Jeffers and left the game during that plate appearance, walking off with a trainer
while flexing his left hand.
“Emotionally [Scott’s] not well. He felt something in his forearm, as far as a sting. We’ll get an MRI tomorrow, and we’ll know more after that,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters Monday night at Dodger Stadium, as shown on SportsNet LA. “Obviously if the pitcher has to come out of the game, it’s concerning.”
Tuesday’s test results will reveal the extent of the injury, but Roberts did add that Scott will “most likely” be placed on the injured list, and the team will have a reliever at the ready from Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday should the need arise.
Scott has struggled in the first season of his four-year, $72 million contract, one of the largest deals ever for a reliever in baseball history. The left-hander in 47 games has a 4.15 ERA and 3.85 xERA, his highest marks in three seasons, and his eight home runs allowed are two more than he allowed over the previous two seasons combined, in 150 innings. Scott has saved 19 games but also leads the majors with seven blown saves.
Many of the most-trusted members of last year’s championship bullpen have been sidelined for extended stretches this season. Evan Phillips pitched in seven games before succumbing to Tommy John surgery, Michael Kopech has only pitched in eight games and will be sidelined until at least August 27 after surgery to repair his meniscus.
Blake Treinen has pitched in eight games as well and has been out since April with right forearm tightness. Treinen is five games into a minor league rehab assignment, and last pitched Sunday for Oklahoma City. The Dodgers want Treinen, after missing nearly three months, to get through back-to-back outings before activating him, rather than get him back on Tuesday.
“I don’t see us pivoting off the back-to-back,” Roberts said of Treinen. “It could happen. But I don’t see that happening.”
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