With the start of the World Series less than a week away, the bullpen has morphed into a unit no one — not even the Los Angeles Dodgers front office — saw coming.
Evan Phillips and Brusdar Graterol have been lost for the year. Kirby Yates and Michael Kopech have been essentially non-factors for the entirety of the year. Tanner Scott’s shocking struggles have left him as a non-guarantee to feature in the postseason at all. Perhaps most surprising, rookie Roki Sasaki has turned into a lights-out high-leverage reliever out of necessity.
As it pertains to Scott, is there still a world where he can help this team win four more games?
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Jon Heyman of the New York Post spoke to Scott about his recent physical ailment. It’s unknown as to whether Scott could conceivably appear on the World Series roster. Having said that, the veteran left-handed reliever is hoping to be a part of the picture.
“Scott, who struggled his first year as Dodgers closer (4.74) but is among the most talented pen arms, told The Post he’s throwing and has hopes he can rejoin the team for the World Series,” Heyman wrote. “He called the ailment an infection while a Dodgers official called it a cyst. Scott is working hard, but it’s uncertain if there’s enough buildup time to rejoin the team as a back-end reliever, which coincidentally is what his recent procedure accomplished.”
Scott abruptly was taken off the NLDS roster versus the Philadelphia Phillies in what was initially an undisclosed issue. It later came out that Scott had a minor procedure, and that he could potentially return should the team make the World Series.
The Dodgers do have essentially a week to determine whether Scott is capable of being included. He’s not pitched once this postseason, and the last time he featured in a game was back on September 26th. To Scott’s credit, he had allowed only two earned runs and four hits over his last seven appearances (6.2 innings pitched).
However, given the lefties the Dodgers have to their disposal, it may be unlikely Scott ramps up enough in time to regain his spot on the roster for the World Series. It’ll be an interesting storyline to watch as the team creeps closer and closer to Friday’s Game 1 of the Fall Classic.
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Photo Credit: David A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
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