The Los Angeles Dodgers began the season with championship ambitions, but recent struggles have clouded their World Series hopes. Now holding first place in the NL West with an 80-64 record, the team’s biggest concern lies in a shaky bullpen—highlighted by the costly struggles of $72 million reliever Tanner Scott. Friday night at Camden Yards epitomized Scott’s struggles when he surrendered a walk-off home run to the Baltimore Orioles, extending the Dodgers’ losing streak to four games.

The crushing defeat prompted an emotional response from Scott, who admitted his mental battle with the game he once dominated.

The Athletic’s Andy McCullough captured Scott’s raw honesty following the devastating loss. “For everyone that threw tonight and was great, for that to happen, it just sucks,” Scott said. “It sucks. It feels terrible. And I have to figure it out. Because baseball hates me right now. I just keep making terrible pitch selections right when it matters, and it’s costing us every time.” The confession revealed the depth of Scott’s struggles, particularly painful given his dominant 1.75 ERA performance last season that earned him his lucrative contract.

Manager Dave Roberts attempted to provide a perspective on Scott’s performance, noting the quality of his stuff while acknowledging the critical mistake. “I thought tonight he threw the ball well,” Roberts explained. “It was one of those things where you’ve got to count leverage on a guy, you’ve got to expand and go for the swing-and-miss. I just thought right there he didn’t make a good pitch. The guy put a good swing on it.” The statistics paint a concerning picture for Scott, whose 4.56 ERA across 51 appearances represents a dramatic decline from his previous excellence, leaving the Dodgers searching for answers in their championship window.

Yet Scott’s struggles weren’t confined to that Friday night disaster. Just days later, another moment would test his resolve and highlight the team’s ongoing bullpen concerns.

Dodgers Nearly Complete Perfect Night

Scott’s troubles extended beyond Friday’s heartbreak, as Monday night’s contest against Colorado revealed the cruel irony of his current situation. The Los Angeles Dodgers stood on the precipice of baseball immortality, with Tyler Glasnow and Blake Treinen crafting a masterful no-hit bid through eight innings before Scott entered to close the historic achievement.

Glasnow had dominated the Rockies with surgical precision, striking out 11 batters while issuing just two walks across seven shutout frames. The right-hander threw 105 pitches—matching his season-high effort—with 65 finding the strike zone in his first career start against Colorado. His microscopic .181 opponents’ batting average leads all National League starters this season.

Treinen maintained the magic with a flawless eighth inning, setting the stage for Scott to deliver the final chapter of what could have been franchise history. Instead, the closer immediately encountered turbulence when Ryan Ritter laced a double, shattering the combined no-hitter dreams that had Dodger Stadium buzzing with anticipation.

Though Scott recovered to retire the next three batters and secure the 3-1 victory, the moment crystallized his season-long struggles. The win kept Los Angeles one game ahead of San Diego in the competitive NL West race, but questions about Scott’s reliability in October’s biggest moments continue mounting with each missed opportunity.