He had the stuff. He had the role. But something went wrong.
Now the Dodgers are demanding one thing from Tanner Scottâand it could change everything.
The Los Angeles Dodgers arenât asking Tanner Scott to throw harder.
Theyâre asking him to become unpredictable.
After a turbulent 2025 season that raised serious concerns, Scott enters 2026 under pressureâand with a clear message from manager Dave Roberts: evolve or risk being exposed again.
Last year was a nightmare by elite bullpen standards.
A 4.74 ERA. Ten blown savesâthe worst in Major League Baseball. Too many missed opportunities, too many hitters sitting comfortably in the box, waiting for a pitch they already knew was coming.
And too often⌠they got it.
Scottâs biggest issue wasnât velocity or raw talent. It was predictability.
Despite possessing a powerful fastball, he leaned on it in familiar locations, allowing hitters to anticipate rather than react. Even when ahead in the count, he struggled to finish at-batsâleaving pitches over the plate that were punished without mercy.

For a pitcher in high-leverage situations, thatâs fatal.
Now, heading into his second season with the Dodgers, the tone has shifted.
âI think itâs just âBe willing to be unpredictable,ââ Roberts emphasizedâa statement that sounds simple, but carries enormous weight.
Because this isnât about mechanics.
Itâs about mindset.

The Dodgers believe Scott has the arsenal to dominateâfastball, slider, and the ability to command both sides of the plate. Whatâs been missing is the willingness to break out of old habits. To challenge hitters differently. To make them uncomfortable.
In other words: stop being predictable⌠even if it feels safe.
And Scott knows it.
In a rare moment of self-reflection, he admitted that last seasonâs struggles werenât just physicalâthey were strategic.
âI tried doing something that I didnât normally do⌠I didnât play to my strengths,â Scott said, acknowledging that he drifted away from what made him successful in previous years.
That realization may be the turning point.
Because early signs suggest something is changing.
This spring, Scott has been quietly dominant. Across 6.1 innings in Cactus League play, he hasnât allowed a single earned run. The command looks sharper. The pitch mix feels less predictable. And perhaps most importantly, hitters no longer look comfortable.
Itâs a small sampleâbut a powerful signal.
Inside the organization, thereâs growing optimism that Scott is rediscovering his edge. And if that happens, the implications could be massive.
Because the Dodgers arenât just looking for improvementâtheyâre looking for impact.
Scott is expected to handle high-leverage innings throughout the season, stepping in for save opportunities when Edwin DĂaz is unavailable. If he delivers, Los Angeles could suddenly boast one of the most dangerous bullpen duos in baseball.
A nightmare scenario for opposing teams.
Last season, the bullpen showed cracks. Leads slipped away. Games that shouldâve been secured turned into frustration. That memory still lingers.
Which is why Scottâs resurgence isnât just importantâitâs essential.
But hereâs the reality: talent was never the issue.
The difference between failure and dominance for Tanner Scott may come down to one simple shiftâbecoming less readable, less comfortable, and far more dangerous.
Because in todayâs game, the moment hitters think they know whatâs comingâŚ
Itâs already too late.
Leave a Reply