Dodgers Receive Huge Bullpen Boost as Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates Set for Weekend Return Against Padres at Petco Park
The Los Angeles Dodgers, one of Major League Baseball’s most star-studded teams, are about to get an injection of much-needed bullpen reinforcements as they prepare for a critical weekend series against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. According to team sources, left-hander Tanner Scott is scheduled to make his long-anticipated return on Friday, while veteran right-hander Kirby Yates is expected to be activated and available by Saturday. The timing could not be more important for the Dodgers, who have endured a rollercoaster ride with their relief corps throughout the first half of the season. With their National League West rivals breathing down their necks, the arrival of Scott and Yates could tilt the balance in the Dodgers’ favor just as the postseason push begins to intensify.
For weeks, manager Dave Roberts and the Dodgers’ front office have been searching for stability in the late innings. While Los Angeles boasts one of the most dangerous lineups in the league, with sluggers like Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman consistently driving the offense, the bullpen has often been a source of concern. Injuries, overuse, and inconsistency have plagued the relief unit, forcing the Dodgers to rely heavily on younger arms and journeymen to hold leads. The addition of Tanner Scott, a high-powered left-hander with elite strikeout ability, and Kirby Yates, a veteran closer with All-Star credentials, provides the Dodgers with the kind of depth and reliability they have been lacking.
Tanner Scott, who last pitched in late June before landing on the injured list with forearm tightness, brings an electric fastball-slider combination that makes him a nightmare for opposing hitters. Before his injury, Scott was one of the most dominant relievers in the Dodgers’ bullpen, posting a sub-2.50 ERA with impressive strikeout numbers. His ability to neutralize left-handed hitters while still handling right-handers effectively gives Roberts a versatile weapon to deploy in high-leverage situations. Scott’s return on Friday couldn’t be better timed, as the Padres boast a balanced lineup featuring left-handed threats like Jake Cronenworth and Jurickson Profar. Having Scott available to face them late in games could swing the outcome in the Dodgers’ favor.
Kirby Yates, meanwhile, has battled his share of injuries over the past few seasons, but when healthy, he has proven to be one of the best relievers in baseball. Dodgers fans will remember Yates as the dominant Padres closer during his All-Star campaign in 2019, when he led the league in saves with a devastating splitter. Now on the Dodgers’ side, Yates has worked his way back from a nagging shoulder issue that sidelined him earlier this season. Set to be activated Saturday, his presence adds veteran poise and experience to a bullpen that has often leaned on youth. Yates’ familiarity with Petco Park, having pitched there for years as a Padre, only adds to the intrigue of his return against his former team.
This series against San Diego is not just another weekend matchup; it carries significant implications for the National League West standings. The Padres, who have been on a hot streak since the All-Star break, are eager to close the gap with the Dodgers. Los Angeles, meanwhile, knows that winning this series would send a strong message that they remain the team to beat in the division. Reinforcements arriving at such a critical moment could be the difference between momentum swinging toward the Padres or firmly back to the Dodgers.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has made no secret of his excitement about getting his bullpen pieces back. “When you talk about Tanner and Kirby, you’re talking about two guys who have proven they can get outs at the highest level,” Roberts said earlier this week. “We’ve asked a lot from some of our young pitchers this season, and they’ve done a tremendous job, but having veterans back in the mix changes everything. It gives us more flexibility and more confidence late in games.”
That flexibility could be game-changing for Los Angeles. Before the injuries, the Dodgers envisioned a bullpen anchored by Scott, Yates, Evan Phillips, Brusdar Graterol, and Alex Vesia, with options like Ryan Brasier and Blake Treinen filling key roles. With Scott and Yates back in the fold, the Dodgers can finally execute that plan. Scott provides the high-leverage left-handed option they’ve been missing, while Yates can handle both setup and closing duties, taking pressure off Phillips, who has shouldered much of the workload in recent months.
For the players themselves, the returns mark the end of long, frustrating rehabs. Tanner Scott admitted earlier this week that watching from the sidelines has been difficult, especially as the Dodgers navigated tight games without him. “It’s never easy when you feel like you can’t help your teammates,” Scott said. “I’m just excited to be back and to contribute. The goal is to be healthy and to be ready for the stretch run, and I feel like I’m there.”
Kirby Yates echoed those sentiments, acknowledging that his journey back has been longer than expected but emphasizing how much he has left to give. “I’ve been through a lot with my arm, but I know what I can do when I’m healthy,” Yates said. “The Dodgers have been great with me, letting me take the time I need to get right. Now it’s about going out there and competing. And to do it against the Padres, at Petco, it’s going to be special.”
Fans of both teams are sure to take notice of the narrative surrounding Yates’ return. Once a fan favorite in San Diego, Yates now dons Dodger blue, and his reappearance at Petco Park will undoubtedly stir mixed emotions in the stands. Padres fans remember his dominance fondly, but they will be less enthusiastic about seeing him try to slam the door on their playoff hopes this weekend.
From a strategic perspective, the Dodgers’ bullpen alignment with Scott and Yates available significantly alters how Roberts can manage late innings. In the past month, Roberts has often been forced to extend starters deeper into games than preferred or rely on untested relievers in critical spots. With Scott and Yates back, Roberts can mix and match, leaning on Scott to handle key left-handed matchups and Yates to stabilize the eighth or ninth innings depending on the situation. That kind of versatility could prove invaluable not just against the Padres, but as the season progresses into September and October.
The Padres, for their part, know they will have their hands full. San Diego’s offense has been clicking lately, with stars like Fernando Tatís Jr., Manny Machado, and Xander Bogaerts heating up. They’ve thrived in comeback situations and shown resilience in late-game rallies. But facing a freshened Dodgers bullpen fortified by Scott and Yates presents a new challenge. The Padres’ ability to adjust to this stronger relief unit could determine whether they can take the series at home.
Looking beyond the weekend, the Dodgers hope these returns are just the beginning of a healthier second half. Injuries have been a recurring theme for the team in recent years, and while the roster has enough depth to weather storms, a fully loaded bullpen makes Los Angeles an even greater threat. With postseason ambitions clear, the Dodgers know that having their relief unit firing on all cylinders is essential to making a deep run.
As the weekend series approaches, anticipation is building. Dodgers fans are eager to see Scott unleash his fiery fastball again and Yates flash the splitter that once made him nearly unhittable. Padres fans, meanwhile, are bracing for the challenge, knowing that their former closer now stands in the way of their division dreams. Petco Park is expected to be packed, with playoff-like energy in late August.
In a season where every game feels magnified, the Dodgers’ bullpen boost arrives at the perfect moment. The return of Tanner Scott on Friday and Kirby Yates on Saturday may not only solidify Los Angeles’ late-inning strategy but also serve as the turning point in their battle with the Padres for National League West supremacy. As Roberts said, “It’s about having the right guys in the right spots, and now we finally do.” For the Dodgers, that could be the difference between holding off the Padres or finding themselves in a dogfight down the stretch.
