The Los Angeles Dodgers don’t typically leave much to chance, especially when it comes to pitching. Yet as projections for the 2026 Opening Day roster take shape, one decision stands out as a calculated gamble rather than a sure thing.
Despite coming off a season in which their bullpen became an unexpected liability, the Dodgers are widely projected to stick with continuity rather than cut bait. According to reporting from The California Post’s Jack Harris, Los Angeles is expected to carry several familiar names into Opening Day, including newly signed closer Edwin Díaz, along with Alex Vesia, Blake Treinen, Brusdar Graterol, and a reliever whose first year in Dodger blue could hardly have gone worse.
On paper, the inclusion raises eyebrows. The Dodgers are willing to reserve a roster spot for a reliever coming off a 4.74 ERA and a league-high 10 blown saves, even as other pitchers with far better recent results project to start the season elsewhere. But the Dodgers’ decision isn’t about last year’s stat line. It’s about what they believe can still be unlocked.
Why Tanner Scott Remains an Opening Day Lock
The pitcher in question is Tanner Scott, and the Dodgers are clearly not ready to give up on him. Scott’s 2025 season was disastrous by almost every measure. Injuries limited his availability, command issues plagued him throughout the year, and he ultimately missed the entire postseason after elbow inflammation and an unexpected surgical procedure.
That outcome looked especially jarring given the investment. When president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman signed Scott to a four-year, $72 million deal ahead of the 2025 season, it marked a rare departure from his usual reluctance to commit long-term money to relievers. Scott had earned it with an elite two-year stretch prior to arriving in Los Angeles, posting a 2.04 ERA while striking out more than 31 percent of hitters across 150 innings.
The Dodgers believe that version of Scott still exists.
Dodgers Betting on a Bullpen Rebound in 2026
Scott has been candid about what went wrong. Speaking at DodgerFest, he acknowledged that trying to be perfect—and trying to make an immediate impression—led him away from what made him effective in the first place. Predictability crept into his approach, particularly once he got ahead in the count, and hitters punished mistakes that never used to surface.
The organization sees 2026 as a reset. With Díaz now anchoring the bullpen on a three-year, $69 million deal, Scott no longer carries the pressure of late-inning expectations. Instead, he can focus on execution, trusting his stuff, and rediscovering the aggressive approach that once made him one of the most difficult left-handers in the league to square up.
There’s also a roster logic at play. The Dodgers value balance in the bullpen, and Scott remains one of their few power left-handed options. Carrying him into Opening Day preserves depth, flexibility, and the possibility that the investment finally pays off.
This isn’t blind optimism. The Dodgers are betting on Scott’s track record, their confidence in the coaching staff, and the belief that last season was an outlier rather than a new baseline. Los Angeles doesn’t need Scott to be perfect. They need him to be functional—and if he can approach anything close to his All-Star form, their bullpen suddenly looks far more formidable.
For a team built to absorb risk and maximize upside, keeping Scott on the Opening Day roster isn’t stubbornness. It’s a strategy.
Dodgers Expected to Carry 4.74 ERA Pitcher on Opening Day Roster