Introduction to the Problem
Three times in the ninth inning last Friday night in New York, new Dodgers closer Tanner Scott made the same simplistic, save-blowing mistake. In an inning that saw Scott blow a three-run Dodgers lead — forcing the team into a 13-inning marathon that, despite eventually winning, their overworked bullpen could ill-afford — Scott got to two strikes against a Mets batter, only to leave a mistake pitch over the plate. To Starling Marte, it was a 1-and-2 fastball up and over the middle, resulting in a leadoff single. After a one-out walk to Pete Alonso, Scott had Jeff McNeil 2-and-2 before throwing a belt-high heater on the inner half that was ripped for a two-run triple. Another two-strike count followed to Tyrone Taylor, but Scott’s 1-and-2 slider hung up around the heart of zone, leading to a tying single that marked Scott’s fourth blown save in 14 opportunities this year and raised his ERA to 3.42 — hardly the numbers expected out of an All-Star left-hander signed to a $72-million contract this offseason.
Analyzing the Issue
“I think the stuff is still good,” manager Dave Roberts said afterward. “It’s just right now, it just seems like when there is a mistake, they find some outfield grass or put a good swing on it.” And lately, such mistakes have been coming in more abundance than usual for Scott, highlighting one early-season trend the Dodgers are now working to address. “Right now, he’s just kind of living in the middle, the midline of the zone,” pitching coach Mark Prior said. “You leave it in that spot, more than likely they’re gonna put a good swing on it.” Dodgers pitcher Tanner Scott embraces catcher Dalton Rushing after a 3-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium on May 21. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Understanding Scott’s Struggle
For a pitcher who struggled with command issues early in his career — before blossoming into one of the top left-handed relievers in the sport of the last several seasons — Scott is now seemingly suffering from the opposite problem. So far this year, more than 58% of his pitches have been in the strike zone, a rate that is easily a personal career high (well up from his previous high mark of 52.4% last year) and ranks 18th among qualified big-league relievers. On top of that, hitters have been on such offerings as well, making contact on 80% of swings against Scott’s pitches over the plate (compared to his 76% career rate) and averaging almost 92 mph of exit velocity on balls put in play (leaving Scott in the seventh percentile of MLB arms when it comes to batted ball contact).
The Path Forward
The good news is that Scott has 25 strikeouts and only two walks. Even with his fastball playing a tick down velocity-wise (averaging 96.1 mph this year compared to 97 mph last year), he converted nine of his first 11 save opportunities, squandering only a pair of one-run leads while posting a sub-2.00 ERA through his first 21 appearances. This past week, however, Scott was knocked around twice: Giving up three runs on two homers to the Arizona Diamondbacks last week (in another game that necessitated extra innings before the Dodgers came back to win) before his ninth-inning meltdown at Citi Field on Sunday. Dodgers pitcher Tanner Scott throws from the mound against the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 20 at Dodger Stadium. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Addressing the Concerns
“He’s actually been pretty good for us,” Roberts said of Scott’s performance overall. “But the last couple, the last two of three, he’s obviously given up leads.” Scott said his increased aggressiveness in the strike zone has not been by design. “I don’t even look at it,” he bristled when asked about his rise in in-zone pitch percentage this weekend. “I don’t even look at it.” But Prior acknowledged it is something on the coaching staff’s radar. “Obviously, we want strikes; more strikes than balls,” Prior said. “But he gets in situations where he can get into counts, and I think we’re just leaving too many balls in the zone late in counts, instead of going for more miss.”
Conclusion
The Dodgers are hoping a simple adjustment will get Tanner Scott back on track. With fellow high-leverage relievers Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen, Kirby Yates, and Michael Kopech all out injured, the team is relying heavily on Scott to stabilize the bullpen. To get back on track, Scott needs to make a few key adjustments, including better locating his fastball up and out of the zone and more consistently executing his slider in locations that induce more chase. If he can make these adjustments, the Dodgers are confident that Scott can return to his All-Star form and help the team succeed.
FAQs
- Q: What is the main issue with Tanner Scott’s pitching?
A: Scott is leaving too many pitches in the strike zone, making it easier for hitters to make contact. - Q: How has Scott’s performance been this season?
A: Scott has blown four saves in 14 opportunities and has an ERA of 3.42, which is higher than expected. - Q: What adjustments does Scott need to make to improve?
A: Scott needs to better locate his fastball up and out of the zone and more consistently execute his slider in locations that induce more chase. - Q: How important is Scott’s performance to the Dodgers?
A: With several high-leverage relievers injured, Scott’s performance is crucial to the team’s success. - Q: Is Scott’s increased aggressiveness in the strike zone by design?
A: No, Scott said his increased aggressiveness in the strike zone has not been by design.
