The Los Angeles Dodgers suffered a devastating 5-4 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, blowing a 4-0 lead and facing a major blow to their playoff momentum. Despite an outstanding performance by Shohei Ohtani, who pitched six shutout innings, the bullpen’s late-game collapse became the real story of the night. Dodgers’ $72 million star entered the game with a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth, only to see it slip away with his 10th blown save of the season. This defeat has Dodgers fans talking, many questioning the team’s reliability in crucial moments.

Dodgers Nation even tweeted, “Tanner Scott said the Dodgers should have won vs the Diamondbacks tonight and took responsibility for the final outcome. Does he deserve the blame for LA’s blown 4-0 lead?”

Tanner Scott, visibly frustrated, accepted full responsibility for the blown lead and loss. Speaking openly after the game, he said, “Should have won the game. It was my fault… For this to happen, it sucks. It’s gotta end tonight and tomorrow’s a new day.” Scott’s admission mirrors his recent struggles, marking another rough patch in what has been a turbulent season for the $72 million reliever. The Dodgers have leaned heavily on Scott to close games, but with 10 blown saves, questions mount about his postseason reliability.

This game was particularly tough for Scott after a solid four-game stretch where he dominated, not allowing a single run. His inability to finish against Arizona highlighted ongoing inconsistency, and the Dodgers now face the immediate challenge of helping him regain form. While Scott’s accountability is commendable, the reality is the team needs him back at his dominant best for a postseason push.

Despite frustration, Scott remains hopeful about rebounding, emphasizing he must quickly move past this loss. The Dodgers are counting on him to return to earlier, more effective performances. Scott’s role as closer remains uncertain, and he must deliver in clutch moments to restore trust among teammates, coaches, and fans.

The slump of Scott, combined with Dave Roberts’ bullpen management, has sparked fan frustration. Los Angeles is increasingly turning on Roberts, whose decision-making during critical moments faces greater scrutiny. As October approaches, Roberts’ bullpen choices and Scott’s ability to close will be under the microscope. A Scott resurgence could help rebuild confidence not only in him but in Roberts’ leadership as well.

With Ohtani proving to be a key postseason starter and the bullpen’s uneven performances at times, the Dodgers urgently need Scott to take responsibility and deliver. Stable bullpen pitching could put the team in a stronger position for a World Series run. But for now, attention remains on Scott to prove he can perform under pressure when it matters most.

Fans are now focusing on manager Dave Roberts, whose loyalty to struggling relievers has come under heavy criticism. The lingering question is whether Roberts’ steadfast support for his bullpen is costing the Dodgers crucial wins, especially as playoff pressure intensifies.

Fans’ reaction to Roberts’ handling of Dodgers’ bullpen woes

As the Dodgers’ playoff hopes become increasingly uncertain, fans have targeted Roberts’ bullpen management, primarily concerning Tanner Scott and Blake Treinen. One fan said, “Roberts is so married to Scott and Treinen. They have been losing the whole season. Loyalty to them has and will cause their downfall.” This direct criticism responds to Roberts’ repeated support for struggling pitchers. For example, during an extra-inning 5-1 loss to the Giants on September 11, Scott admitted, “Gave up a bad pitch to a hitter (Patrick Bailey) that can hit fastballs. It cost us again.”

This was not Scott’s first failure; he allowed back-to-back walk-off losses to the Orioles on September 5 and 6. Then Blake Treinen gave up three runs in the eighth inning, prolonging a slump that contributed to a 3-1 loss to the Giants just days ago. Despite these continued struggles, Roberts has refrained from punishing these pitchers. Many fans feel such loyalty is unwise given the high stakes.

Another fan echoed the sentiment: “I know this is going to sound crazy, but their season kinda gives a fan doubts they’ll do much in the playoffs. Maybe Roberts thought letting him close a winner would boost his confidence… who knows, but the Dodgers have bullpen problems.” This highlights the growing disillusionment with the team’s issues and skepticism regarding Roberts’ judgment. Despite Scott’s poor recent performance, Roberts continues to rely on him in high-pressure situations, fueling doubts about the team’s postseason prospects.

A further fan stated, “100 percent along with Dave Roberts, who keeps sending them out there. Has to be a time when you don’t let him be high leverage anymore, and that was a long time ago.” The implication is clear: faith in Scott’s effectiveness is misplaced. Scott’s 4.91 ERA, 1-4 record, and 1.27 WHIP this season do not reflect elite performance. Fans believe Roberts has missed the opportunity to adjust his bullpen strategy and extract better results.

Another fan took a blunt approach: “He keeps taking responsibility, and Dave Roberts keeps having hope. The only thing that changes is the calendar and the number of losses. I’m over it.” This reflects growing impatience. On Tuesday, Scott visibly lost control, failing to locate pitches properly against the Diamondbacks’ bottom lineup. He hit Ildemaro Vargas on a 2-2 pitch, walked Tim Tawa on four pitches, and, after falling behind James McCann 0-2, allowed a sacrifice bunt that advanced runners.

Scott admitted, “I hit the first guy and walked the second guy. That puts yourself in a pretty tough spot to get out of. I wasn’t executing pitches.” Even after getting ahead again, he gave up a sacrifice fly that tied the game—an error that would have been a walk-off home run in some ballparks. Postseason countdown aside, many fans feel nothing has changed; the ongoing cycle of blame and hope repeats, wearing on their patience.

Finally, a fan put the blame squarely on Roberts: “Robert was the one most responsible since it was obvious that that pitcher was destined to lose the game, due to his poor outings. In short, Roberts, you lost this game because of a bad decision. With this relief pitching staff, it is very difficult to dream of a championship!” This perspective places responsibility for the loss on Roberts’ bullpen management choices, emphasizing that his decisions may have cost the Dodgers the game. The bullpen’s inconsistency has strained fan trust, and the manager’s role is no longer overlooked.

As the Dodgers continue fighting for postseason positioning, mounting criticism of Roberts’ bullpen calls becomes a central franchise issue. While Scott and Treinen remain tasked with critical spots, their struggles have caused fans to question whether loyalty to underperforming pitchers serves the team’s best interests. With the playoffs fast approaching, it is clear the Dodgers’ bullpen problems cannot be ignored. The pressure mounts on Roberts to make tough decisions to revive the team.