SAN FRANCISCO — Tanner Scott anticipated the question and cut it off.
Does he expect his role to change now that Edwin Diaz will not be closing games for at least three months?
“Whenever the phone rings,” Scott said Tuesday, repeating the phrase multiple times to variations of the question. “Whenever the phone rings.”
The phone rang in the ninth inning for Scott more than any other Dodgers reliever in 2025, his first year with the team after signing a four-year, $72 million contract as a free agent. He wasn’t signed to be the closer. But the other options (Blake Treinen and Evan Phillips) the Dodgers planned to share that role were lost to injury for most of the 2025 season and Scott wound up converting 23 saves. But he also led the majors with 10 blown saves and did not pitch at all in the postseason for medical reasons.
The Dodgers signed Diaz to a three-year, $69 million contract this past winter, heading into this season with a designated closer for the first time since Kenley Jansen left following the 2021 season and relegating Scott to a more fluid setup role.
“I just like being in big situations,” Scott said of his preferred role. “Last year just sucked. Simple as that.”
Nonetheless, when asked to forecast which Dodgers reliever will get the most save opportunities in Diaz’s absence, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts named Scott.
“If I had to guess … I would say probably Tanner,” Roberts said.
“And that could change. I honestly don’t know. I mean, Tanner can pitch in the seventh tonight, and Blake can get the save. So honestly, it’s kind of day to day. It really is.”
Brock Stewart is expected to join Roberts’ list of ninth-inning options at some point soon (he has made two appearances on a rehab assignment in Class-A) and Phillips will likely return before Diaz. But Roberts sees no reason to designate a closer to replace Diaz.
“I think, for me, the closer should stand out amongst the other guys, as far as performance, where it’s a clear-cut guy at the back end. And I think for me, we have the luxury of having a lot of guys that are in a similar bucket,” he said. “That’s my hesitation. So if we don’t have a clear-cut guy that I feel should get the lion’s share, or should be the dedicated closer, then I feel that – I know people don’t like to hear it – but the closer-by-committee way of doing it.”
SNELL REHAB
Blake Snell will begin his minor-league rehabilitation assignment with Class-A Ontario on Wednesday. The Tower Buzzers are in San Jose this week, so Snell joined the Dodgers at Oracle Park on Tuesday.
“I think the expectation is for him to go three innings and then probably six days later, do another three innings and go from there,” Roberts said. “It’s good to see him around and with the guys. I know he’s chomping at the bit.”
Snell will make “at least three and probably four” starts in the minors before the Dodgers consider activating him.
“I think he’s right on track,” Roberts said. “We were very methodical about this whole process. Even from the outset, we were pretty conservative as far as when he’s gonna come back. So this is kind of what we had hoped.”
BIZARRE COMPLAINT
The Chicago Cubs have 10 pitchers on the injured list. But when Cubs manager Craig Counsell was asked about the roster implications for his team, he took a slap at the ‘two-way player’ rule which allows the Dodgers to carry 13 pitchers – plus Shohei Ohtani.
“It’s a rule to help offense, more than anything, if you ask me,” Counsell said to reporters. “And then there’s one team that’s allowed to carry basically one of both, and he gets special consideration, which is probably the most bizarre rule. For one team.”
The rule was instituted in 2020 and modified in 2022. It allows for a two-way player designation if a player has pitched at least 20 major-league innings and started at least 20 major-league games as a position player (or DH) with at least three plate appearances in each of those games.
A player with that designation does not count against the 13-pitcher roster limit. Currently, only Ohtani qualifies.
“It certainly benefits us because we have the player. But that’s something that any team that had Ohtani would have that player,” Roberts said of Counsell’s criticism. “We’re more than willing for other teams to go out and find a player who can do both.
“He’s an exception because he’s an exceptional player.”
ALSO
Freddie and Chelsea Freeman announced the birth of their fourth child and first daughter on Sunday – London Rosemary Joy Freeman. Freddie Freeman was activated from the paternity list and rejoined the Dodgers for Tuesday’s game, playing first base and batting third. Ryan Ward was returned to OKC.
UP NEXT
Dodgers (RHP Shohei Ohtani, 2-0, 0.50 ERA) at Giants (RHP Tyler Mahle, 0-3, 7.23 ERA), Wednesday, 6:45 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM