LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers’ frustrating 4-3 extra-inning loss to the Mets on Monday night wasn’t just another tally in the loss column—it was another reminder of the volatility in the bullpen, especially when games reach the late innings. Despite a spirited comeback that pushed the game to extras, manager Dave Roberts was left to answer familiar questions about his club’s closer situation, particularly after Tanner Scott allowed two runs in the top of the tenth.
Asked what’s going wrong with Scott lately, Roberts pointed directly to command. “I think with Tanner, it’s just mislocation,” he said. “You look at the Alvarez [at-bat], the Lindor [pitch] was down, but it was middle. I just think it’s just sort of missing a big part of the plate—or the wrong part of the plate—given a particular hitter.”
Roberts was quick to defend the quality of Scott’s stuff, noting that “every [set of] eyes and talking to our pitching guys, the stuff’s good. It’s just the command just isn’t where it needs to be right now.” When pressed on whether that points to a mechanical issue, he acknowledged, “It certainly does speak to mechanical issues and it’s probably really minute, but obviously making a big difference.”
While some might argue Scott needs a reset or a reduced role, Roberts pushed back at the idea that the team can afford to be selective with matchups. “We’re still trying to win games,” he said. “Obviously, you have to look at who’s available and who can handle leverage and things like that. We’re relying a lot on two rookies. You gotta give credit to Jack [Dreyer] and Ben [Casparius], but it’s the other guys’ responsibilities as well who’ve been through the trials and had a lot more experience. I just don’t feel it’s right to put everything on those two young players.”
When asked directly whether he still considers Scott an option to close out games, Roberts didn’t hesitate: “Yeah, I would. I would.” He noted that the club doesn’t currently have a set closer: “There’s not one particular closer right now. I think I’ve shown that—using different guys in leverage and finishing games and things like that.” Still, he added, “There are a few guys that I feel comfortable finishing a game with.”
As for the rest of the night, Roberts had to juggle a short bench and waited as long as he could to use Will Smith and Mookie Betts as pinch hitters in the bottom of the tenth. “I was just kind of wanting to wait as long as I could to see if they were going to keep [Jose Castillo] in the game to potentially give Michael [Conforto] a different matchup with [José] Buttó,” he explained. “At the end of the day, I was going to take my chance on Will getting a hit against a neutral Buttó and then Tommy [Edman] getting a hit.”
Roberts also praised starter Dustin May, who reached a career-high number of innings in a season on Sunday. “Not surprised,” he said of May’s increased workload. “He’s worked hard to get back. He’s been very efficient… Dalton [Rushing]’s done a fantastic job with him. He’s strong, and I feel he’s in a good spot physically.”
The Dodgers’ offense once again took time to heat up, something Roberts connected to the opposing pitchers’ style. “I think the common thread is you’ve got guys that don’t throw the ball hard, that pitch backward, that use a breaking ball, changeup, cutter… Guys are timed up for velocity. No excuse. You still gotta find a way to hit those guys.” He did credit Shohei Ohtani’s solo homer in the seventh with sparking late momentum. “It was a boost, certainly.”
With another gut-punch loss in the books, Roberts didn’t hide how much these late-inning heartbreakers sting. “They do,” he admitted. “A loss is a loss, but when you feel that you’ve done enough to win a game late and then to not come away with it, it stings a little bit more.”
Still, he remains optimistic. “We’ve got Clayton coming off a decent outing in Cleveland. I still like where our pen is at. I still like where our offense is at in totality. Mookie could be back in there tomorrow. So, like most days, I feel good about that particular day winning.”
That day can’t come soon enough.
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