In the past few games, the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen has not been able to close out games. Dodgers fans probably look at the game's final score, if they missed watching the game live, and see a final score that doesn't go the team's way.
One can assume they'll look to see who was on the mound for Los Angeles. Those fans probably recoil when seeing Tanner Scott's name in the box score. Scott has blown five save opportunities this season, making anytime he's on the mound leaving those fans feeling queasy.
Scott was able to close out Monday's 3-1 win over the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. But he had a bigger job to do -- keep Tyler Glasnow's no-hit bid in play. Blake Treinen, who hasn't been that sharp at times himself, worked a perfect eighth after Glasnow's seven innings of work. Glasnow did give up an earned run, but it came across without a hit allowed.
Are the Dodgers and, namely, manager Dave Roberts looking for some other options when it comes to the bullpen?
It's worth taking a look at as the Dodgers look to stretch out their one-game lead in the National League West Division over the San Diego Padres.
Scott and Kirby Yates were signed in the offseason, hopefully to bolster the Dodgers bullpen. That has not worked out at all. Treinen was on the Injured List for some time and even his recent outings have been so-so.
The Dodgers front office did their best to shore up the bullpen situation. They hoped that these additions would get the job done. But it hasn't worked out much better than expected.
Would you believe the Dodgers might look at Shohei Ohtani as an option? If Roberts decided to use Ohtani, that comes with a qualifier. Ohtani could start out as a designated hitter in a game. If Roberts used him on the mound, though, he could not hit again. MLB rules restrict that from happening and is Roberts going to take Ohtani's bat out of the lineup? That's a big question.
Roberts, though, has given it some thought.
"There’s obviously thoughts about that," Roberts said last weekend in Baltimore, according to Dodgers reporter Sonja Chen of MLB.com. "I can’t answer that question right now. But we’re going to do whatever we feel gives us the best chance to give us a chance to win. And I know Shohei would be open to whatever. We haven’t certainly made that decision."
The Dodgers have had to entrust Ben Casparius, Jack Dreyer, and Justin Wrobleski to carry the bullpen. There's no doubt that Roberts will lean on them even more down the stretch.
Los Angeles desperately needs the bullpen to come through each and every game they have left in the 2025 MLB regular season. They cannot afford to have multiple meltdowns because the Padres look like they are locked in to secure an NL postseason playoff spot.
The Dodgers continue their home series against the Rockies on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. Let's see if the bullpen, if asked to do so, can come through for Roberts.