The Los Angeles Dodgers, reigning World Series champions, have welcomed back their All-Star closer Tanner Scott from the 15-day injured list, and the impact has been immediate. After a challenging first season in Los Angeles, marked by inconsistent performances and a mid-season injury, Scott’s return on August 22, 2025, has reinvigorated the Dodgers’ bullpen at a critical juncture. The team’s coaching staff identified and corrected a subtle flaw in his delivery, leading to a swift resurgence that has fans and analysts buzzing with intrigue about what’s behind his turnaround. With the Dodgers holding a slim two-game lead over the San Diego Padres in the NL West, Scott’s revival could be the key to locking down another division title.

Scott, a 31-year-old left-handed reliever, signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Dodgers in January 2025, bringing high expectations after stellar performances with the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres. In 2023, he posted a 2.54 ERA with 12 saves for the Marlins, followed by a 2.50 ERA and 22 saves in 2024, splitting time between Miami and San Diego. His postseason heroics, including four scoreless innings and four strikeouts against Dodgers’ star Shohei Ohtani in the 2024 NLDS, made him a prized acquisition. However, his transition to Los Angeles was turbulent. Scott struggled early, blowing his second save attempt in March and three of five in May, when his ERA spiked to 7.59. By July, his ERA reached 8.10, and a forearm injury forced him onto the injured list on July 22 after a shaky outing against the Minnesota Twins.

During his recovery, the Dodgers’ renowned pitching staff pinpointed the root of Scott’s struggles: he was opening his hips too quickly during his delivery, sapping velocity from his signature slider. “It was something so small you wouldn’t really notice, and it was creating something small into something bigger,” Scott explained. After meticulous adjustments, his slider velocity jumped from an average of 88.2 mph to 90.2 mph, returning to his career norm of 88-91 mph. The results were striking. In two outings since his return, Scott delivered scoreless innings, showcasing the precision and power that earned him his first All-Star selection in 2024. “My slider’s always been like 88 to 91,” he said. “Now that I have my delivery back, it’s easier to throw it that hard again.”

Manager Dave Roberts’ decision to stick with Scott, despite his early struggles and injury, is proving prescient. Rather than seeking a replacement at the trade deadline, Roberts trusted the team’s pitching development system, which has a track record of revitalizing arms. Scott’s return strengthens a bullpen battered by injuries, with key relievers like Evan Phillips (out for the season), Michael Kopech, and Kirby Yates sidelined at various points. The Dodgers’ bullpen, leading the majors in innings pitched due to rotation injuries, has leaned heavily on rookies like Ben Casparius and Jack Dreyer. Scott’s resurgence, alongside returning veterans like Yates and Blake Treinen, gives Roberts a versatile, high-leverage arsenal, crucial for navigating tight games in the season’s final stretch.

With the Dodgers leading the NL West by two games as of August 29, 2025, Scott’s revival comes at a perfect time. A favorable upcoming schedule, starting with a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium, offers a chance to widen the gap over the Padres. The series opener, set for 7:10 p.m. PT on Friday, could see Scott locking down a late lead. Fans on X are abuzz, with posts praising the Dodgers’ pitching lab for unlocking Scott’s potential. One user wrote, “Scott’s slider is back to filthy—how’d they fix him so fast?”

As the Dodgers charge toward the postseason, questions linger about what exactly turned Scott’s season around. Was it purely mechanical, or is there more to the story? His ability to dominate late innings, paired with a lineup featuring Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman, makes Los Angeles a juggernaut. Scott’s early struggles tested fans’ patience, but his recent outings suggest he’s ready to deliver when it counts. With the $72 million closer back in form, the Dodgers are poised for a thrilling finish, leaving everyone wondering: what’s the secret behind his All-Star arm’s revival?