SAN DIEGO -- With the stakes as high as could be for a late August series, the Dodgers are bringing a reloaded bullpen into their three-game set against the Padres.
Tanner Scott was activated from the 15-day injured list ahead of Friday night's opener at Petco Park. The Dodgers' de facto closer was out of action for a month after exiting his previous outing with inflammation in his left elbow, and he's the first of several bullpen reinforcements expected in the coming days.
Kirby Yates is slated to return Saturday after being sidelined for more than three weeks with lower back pain. And Michael Kopech won't be far behind, as he should be on schedule to return from a meniscectomy in his right knee right around when he's eligible to be activated from the 60-day IL next Wednesday.
"It's great," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "Tanner says that he feels as good as he's felt all year. Kirby is excited to get back, and he feels good, as well. So to get our guys back is exciting, and yeah, it just kind of takes a little bit of the pressure off some other guys, and it allows us to slot guys in their rightful spots."
When Scott and Yates were both sidelined, there were several games where it was unclear who would be the best option to pitch the ninth inning for the Dodgers in a save situation, even after Blake Treinen returned from an extended IL stint of his own.
Scott's return, in particular, gives L.A. clarity in the late innings, though Roberts said he's still planning on taking a matchup-based approach to those situations.
Both Scott and Yates, who signed with the Dodgers as free agents this past offseason, have struggled with consistency this year. Scott saved 19 games before going on the IL, but he also had seven blown saves, five more than last season. Yates posted a 4.31 ERA and struggled to get a feel for his signature splitter.
The Dodgers are optimistic that both leverage arms were able to use the time on the IL not only to heal, but also to come back pitching to the best of their capabilities.
"There was a little health component for both guys," Roberts said. "And there were some mechanical things that Kirby worked through, Tanner worked through."
Entering the weekend series at Petco Park, the Dodgers carried a slim one-game lead over the Padres in the National League West. This is the last time the divisional rivals will face each other in the regular season, and every chance to do head-on damage could have implications in the final stretch.
That makes locking down wins in the late innings even more important.
The Dodgers have not gotten consistency in that department lately, with the bullpen failing to hold a late lead over the Padres when they previously faced each other last Sunday at Dodger Stadium. But a clutch home run from Mookie Betts and a redemptive outing from Alex Vesia sealed a three-game sweep.
With a better leverage unit at their disposal, the Dodgers are looking to close the book on their season series against their rivals to the south with authority.
"Obviously, we ended up playing really well last week, kind of chasing those guys," Roberts said. "And now we got a game lead. But as far as our overall mindset, I think we feel the same."