Dodgers’ left-hander Tanner Scott is absolutely dealing right now, rocking numbers no other reliever in Major League Baseball can touch this season. The dude has turned his entire game around after a rough first year in Hollywood, proving why he was worth that four-year, $72 million deal he signed before the 2025 season even kicked off.
Scott’s Season Is Straight Up Dominant
This isn’t just a good year; it’s a historic one for Scott among his peers. He’s the *only* reliever in the entire damn league with a strikeout rate above 30% and a walk rate below 6%, assuming they’ve pitched at least 50 innings. Think about that for a second! With Edwin Diaz sidelined by injuries for most of the year, Scott stepped into the closer’s role and has owned it, racking up 19 saves so far. He’s got a nasty 32% strikeout rate and is keeping guys off the bases with a measly 5.5% walk rate as of Monday morning. That’s elite control combined with devastating stuff, the kind of combo you dream of for your bullpen’s anchor, especially when the team’s counting on you.
From Rough Patch to Reliever Royalty
It’s an insane turnaround for the 32-year-old. Back in 2025, his first season with the NL West club, Scott struggled to find his footing. His strikeout rate was a lower 25.2%, and his walk rate was noticeably higher at 7.6% across 57 innings. He had a brutal 10 blown saves out of 33 opportunities last year. Ten! This season? Just two blown saves in 2026. The Dodgers gotta be ecstatic with his bounce-back, especially with their former All-Star closer out of commission. It’s clear Scott put in the work, and it’s paying off in a huge way. He went from struggling to lock it down to being arguably the most effective arm out of the bullpen in all of baseball. That’s a testament to grit and making adjustments, something every player strives for.
This dude is a perfect example of what can happen when a player buckles down and finds their groove. For the Dodgers, having Scott step up in such a huge way amidst Diaz’s injury troubles is nothing short of a lifesaver for their bullpen. He’s not just holding down the fort, he’s excelling at a level no one else in baseball is right now. As for what’s next, Scott just needs to keep doing what he’s doing, dominating hitters and shutting down games for his team. And speaking of unusual stats and players making their mark, our own Mariners’ Cal Raleigh is actually on track for a different kind of history right here in the Emerald City, potentially hitting the fewest home runs ever after a 60+ homer season. It just goes to show you, baseball is wild, and there’s always something unexpected to watch for, whether it’s an ace reliever finding his form or a slugger making history in a new way!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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