The Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen has found success over recent seasons with a versatile approach rather than strictly operating under set roles.
That’s primarily amounted to not having a designated closer, but there appears to be a small shift in philosophy for 2025. The Dodgers bullpen features an array of veterans who have each collected saves throughout their respective careers.
Included in that is newcomer Tanner Scott, who manager Dave Roberts indicated will begin the season in the Dodgers closer role, during an interview with Jim Bowden on MLB Network Radio:
Dave Roberts #Dodgers MGR just told us that Tanner Scott will get the brunt of the saves to start the season
— Jim Bowden
(@JimBowdenGM) February 9, 2025
When the Dodgers introduced Scott last month, general manager Brandon Gomes indicated the left-hander would receive plenty of save opportunities but not necessarily be the set closer.
“I think throughout this process, having conversations with Danny (Lehmann), and going through Tanner, and obviously Doc (Dave Roberts) and Andrew (Friedman), I think Tanner is going to get a ton of opportunities to close games,” Gomes said.
“But the biggest thing is how it all fits together to handle the backend. The main focus will be how best do we put together that bullpen down the stretch for Doc to figure out how he’s going to deploy guys, but we anticipate Tanner getting a lot of saves.”
Scott converted 18 saves for the Miami Marlins last season but only four upon being traded to the San Diego Padres. He otherwise had 12 saves with the Marlins in 2023, and 20 in 2022.
For his part, the 30-year-old has made it clear he’s open to any role the Dodgers ask of him.
Over the past three years, Scott is ninth among all relief pitchers with 11.76 strikeouts per nine innings pitched. He also possesses the third-lowest hard-hit rate (28.6%) in that span.
Tanner Scott & more potential Dodgers closers
In addition to Scott, the Dodgers on any given night can comfortably rely on Michael Kopech, Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen or Kirby Yates to finish a game.
Phillips led the Dodgers last season with 18 saves, followed by Daniel Hudson with 10. Hudson retired after the Dodgers won the 2024 World Series.
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