LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers were already interested in acquiring bullpen help ahead of the July 31 Trade Deadline, but their need became greater with the loss of their top high-leverage arm.
Lefty reliever Tanner Scott was placed on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation ahead of Tuesday night's 10-7 loss to the Twins, but the Dodgers are confident that he'll be back this season. Scott said an MRI on his arm showed only inflammation, no ligament damage in his elbow.
Scott will be shut down from throwing for at least a couple days and then go from there.
"Definitely when it was happening," Scott said, "I had no clue what was going on because I’ve never had an arm issue in my entire career. … After today, it kind of gave me a clear head.”
Righty reliever Alexis Díaz, who was acquired in a trade with the Reds in May, was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Díaz joined the Dodgers in Milwaukee two weeks ago but did not make it into a game before being sent down, and he should get some extended run in the bullpen.
Scott departed Monday's 5-2 win over the Twins with what Roberts called a "sting sensation" in his forearm in the ninth inning. He threw a 2-2 slider in the dirt to Ryan Jeffers and grimaced, prompting Roberts and a trainer to check on him. He flexed his throwing arm as he exited with the trainer.
Roberts described Scott as "emotionally, not well" afterward. Scott said he first felt discomfort on the 1-1 pitch to Jeffers, and it only got worse.
Kirby Yates took over and nearly surrendered the game-tying runs before center fielder James Outman ended the game by snagging a would-be three-run homer off the bat of Carlos Correa.
Scott has been the Dodgers' de facto closer since joining the team on a four-year, $72 million deal this past offseason. While he's had some dominant flashes, he hasn't been a consistent lockdown arm in the ninth inning, posting a 4.14 ERA with 19 saves across 47 appearances.
"It’s a big blow," Roberts said. "He’s not throwing the baseball as well as he’s gonna be throwing the baseball. But just to have somebody that’s there, that takes the baseball, has been huge. To pitch in leverage, someone that’s been there."
The Dodgers have four other high-leverage relievers on the injured list: Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, Brusdar Graterol and Evan Phillips. Treinen should be back by the end of the month, but Kopech is not eligible to return from the 60-day IL until late August. Graterol could return sometime in September, and Phillips is out for the season due to Tommy John surgery.
Given the injury situation, and the inconsistency they've seen from Scott and Yates, the Dodgers were already expected to pursue bullpen help ahead of the July 31 Trade Deadline. Even though they're expecting Scott back, they could potentially make a play for a legitimate back-end arm.
"As far as leverage, we’ll kind of mix and match and see whatever the game presents and who’s available that particular night," Roberts said. "But there’s some guys that are throwing the baseball well and some guys that need to get better.”
Yates is a candidate to get the ball in save situations, but he's among those who need to get better. The veteran right-hander has converted three saves, but opponents are slugging .500 against him -- up from .182 last year -- in part because his signature splitter has been inconsistent.
Once Treinen pitches back-to-back games on his rehab assignment -- which is planned to happen this week -- he should be an option to return and close out games. Alex Vesia could also figure into the ninth-inning picture.
And then there's the trade market. General manager Brandon Gomes said Scott's injury hasn't necessarily changed the Dodgers' approach with the Deadline looming. Even so, adding an arm or two could help stabilize a bullpen that leads the Majors in innings but ranks 24th with a 4.41 ERA.
"As we stand right now," Gomes said, "I feel really good about our staff in general and a really talented group of guys that are here now and then also still set to come back."