Tanner Scott Could Make a Surprise Return to the Dodgers for the World Series
Tanner Scott’s absence from the Los Angeles Dodgers’ roster during the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers wasn’t because of poor performance. In fact, his omission had everything to do with an unexpected medical situation.
Scott was removed from the NL Division Series roster just before Game 4 due to an urgent lower-body abscess excision surgery. Under MLB rules, any player taken off a roster mid-series for an injury must sit out the following postseason round, which unfortunately made Scott unavailable for the NLCS. But here’s the good news: he’s now eligible to rejoin the team for the World Series.
Many teams might have opted to shut down a player under these circumstances, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts left the door open for Scott’s potential return. "I wouldn’t close that door," Roberts said after Scott’s injury became public. "The rules make him unavailable for the CS, but if we earn our way to the World Series, he could definitely be part of the roster."
In Scott’s absence, Justin Wrobleski stepped in, though he hasn’t yet pitched in this postseason. During the NLCS, the Dodgers relied on just four relievers: Anthony Banda, Blake Treinen, Alex Vesia, and Roki Sasaki. Scott didn’t see action in either the Wild Card Series or the NLDS while he was active, and although he might have been an option for Game 3 of the NLDS, he wasn’t even at the stadium due to his surgery.
The 31-year-old is coming off the most challenging season of his career, finishing with a 4.74 ERA over 57 innings and 10 blown saves. Despite that, the Dodgers had committed to Scott with a four-year, $72 million deal, including a club option for 2029.
But even though Scott is now eligible for the World Series roster, the likelihood of him actually joining seems low. He hasn’t pitched in a major league game since September 26, meaning nearly a month will have passed by the time the Fall Classic begins on Friday, October 24. Bringing him back after that long of a layoff would be risky.
Additionally, the Dodgers already have three left-handed relievers ahead of Scott—Banda, Vesia, and Jack Dreyer. Considering that both the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays have lineups heavy with right-handed hitters, the Dodgers might find it more strategic to add another right-handed arm if they choose to expand their bullpen at all.
So, while Scott’s return is technically possible, the practical realities of performance, recent inactivity, and roster composition make it a questionable move.
And this is the part most people miss—do you think a player like Scott should get another shot in the World Series purely because he’s eligible, or should teams prioritize current form and matchup strategy? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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