When the Los Angeles Dodgers bolstered their bullpen with three big names, the expectation was clear: to shore up the final innings with experience and control. However, the result has been the opposite; the more than $40 million invested in Tanner Scott, Blake Treinen and Kirby Yates has translated into instability, high ERAs and wasted critical moments
Instead of becoming a defensive shield, the bullpen has been a constant crack in the team’s strategy. Tanner Scott, who came in as a solid option in the closer role, has squandered key opportunities, while Treinen and Yates have lost consistency in the moments when they are most needed. For an organization with World Series aspirations, this situation is not only worrisome, but alarming.
Tanner Scott, Blake Treinen and Kirby Yates: What’s up with the Dodgers’ reliable arms?
Tanner Scott has been the symbol of this debacle with an ERA close to 5.00 and multiple blown saves. His performance has left more doubts than certainties because in games where he was supposed to close the door, he ended up opening it.
Blake Treinen, who in previous years was key with the Los Angeles team, is now struggling to regain his form, his control has been erratic and recent statistics do not support his permanence in high-pressure situations. Alongside him, Kirby Yates has been equally inconsistent, allowing too many runs in short periods of action, a luxury no team can afford in October.
With the postseason looming, can the Dodgers trust their bullpen?
The stage is set, the playoffs begin in a matter of days and the Dodgers are far from having a reliable bullpen. The team’s offense remains one of the most dangerous in the league and its starting rotation boasts some big names, but the bullpen has become a critical point.
If management does not find an emergency solution, the team’s Achilles’ heel could prove costly. What promised to be a winning formula today looks like a planning mistake that could leave the Dodgers out of the fight sooner than expected.
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