The Dodgers seemed to have everything under control on Tuesday night against the D-Backs. Their ace was pitching effectively, their lineup was productive, and they maintained a 4-0 lead. However, by the time the final out was made, the scoreboard read 5-4, with Los Angeles suffering a frustrating loss. The culprit: the bullpen. After the defeat, Dave Roberts finally spoke out.

Tanner Scott, the high-priced reliever who inked a four-year, $72 million deal, surrendered the lead in the ninth. He opened the inning by hitting a batter, then walked another on four straight pitches, allowed a sacrifice fly that tied the game, and ultimately lost it when Perdomo delivered a walk-off single. This marked his tenth blown save—an MLB all-time single-season record—as the game slipped away from the Dodgers.

Following the collapse, Dave Roberts did not hold back. He said Scott “went way too heavy on the slider. Really didn’t provide a threat for a fastball that I feel plays now. It speaks to the predictability. But again, as we get into this point in season, everything is more magnified.” Roberts highlighted how Scott threw 18 sliders compared to only three fastballs over 21 pitches, allowing Arizona hitters to anticipate his approach and capitalize. This lack of pitch variety proved costly and enabled the D-Backs to stage an easy comeback.

Roberts went further, “We’re going to have to find a way. I think not each individual, but I just think that these are our guys, I do know that I just see just careful getting behind the walk-in guys, hit batsmen. That’s just a sign of you’re either scared or you’re pitching too careful. That’s just the facts. You’re not having the conviction in executing pitches for fear of failure or getting hit.”

“At this time of season, you’ve got to put everything out there and trust that it’s going to be good. Because when you pitch behind and afraid to make a mistake, hang a breaking ball, that’s when bad things happen… And hitters can smell that. “

Scott’s performance has been subpar this year. Over 59 games, he holds a 1-4 record with a 4.91 ERA across 55 innings, with 57 strikeouts and a 1.27 WHIP. Asked about the debacle, Scott admitted, “Should’ve won that game. It was my fault.”

To address the bullpen’s ongoing issues as the playoffs approach, Roberts has turned to an unusual solution: Clayton Kershaw. The manager is seriously considering deploying Kershaw as a reliever in Wednesday’s contest versus the D-Backs. This would not hinder Kershaw’s expected Sunday start, making it a calculated gamble to plug immediate bullpen leaks. The role Kershaw might play—long relief, setup, or potentially closer—has not yet been specified, but it underscores the urgency of stabilizing the relief corps.

Roberts confirmed Kershaw’s buy-in: “Yeah, he brought it to me, and I said, that’s a great idea. And he was comfortable, and we have a couple-day window in the regular season that wouldn’t impact his Sunday start. So I thought it was a good idea, and I supported it.”

While shortcomings in the bullpen took center stage, the night also offered optimism. Even as Scott faltered, Los Angeles’ two-way superstar exemplified championship-caliber play.

Positioning for October: Ohtani as rotation anchor

The Dodgers lost Tuesday’s game, fully aware of its significance with the postseason nearing. Although assured of a Wild Card spot, they remain behind in the divisional race and are searching for pitching reliability. Shohei Ohtani’s stellar arm could provide the much-needed backbone for the playoff run.

This time, Ohtani pitched six innings while throwing 68 pitches and allowing zero runs, a mark of his progress after earlier rehab limits. As Ohtani noted through his interpreter Will Ireton, “The end of the rehab progression at the beginning of the year was more about getting to the five-inning mark.” “As the season goes on, and having a conversation with Dave Roberts last night, I stated the desire of wanting to pitch a little longer and to help the team in any way, shape or form.”

Roberts granted Ohtani the opportunity to extend his outing, resulting in a line that read: six scoreless innings, eight strikeouts, no walks, and five hits given up. This outing, his longest since 2023, came at a crucial stretch with just five regular-season games—and six off-days—remaining before playoff rotation decisions must be made. Ohtani’s performance could be the catalyst for his postseason role, anchoring the Dodgers amid an otherwise unsettled pitching staff.