Latest injury puts more pressure on Dodgers' trade-deadline plans

The Dodgers announced that reliever Tanner Scott has gone on the 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation. Los Angeles recalled Alexis Díaz to take his spot in the bullpen.

This was more or less guaranteed when Scott departed Monday night’s appearance with what manager Dave Roberts called a “sting” in his forearm. That’s a concerning note, but Roberts sounded more optimistic Tuesday than he had Monday night. The skipper told reporters that Scott felt “much better” Tuesday, via Alden González of ESPN. The Dodgers are still awaiting results of an MRI before they’re fully off the hook, but there’s reason to hope they avoided a worst-case situation.

Scott is in the first season of a four-year deal. It has been an underwhelming year for last winter’s top free-agent reliever. Scott owns a 4.19 ERA through 45 2/3 innings. His 27.2% strikeout rate and career-low 6% walk percentage are both better than league average. The biggest culprit in his middling earned run average is a huge spike in hard contact — and correspondingly, in home runs. Scott has blown an MLB-high seven leads while recording 19 saves and eight holds.

The Dodgers were prioritizing a high-leverage reliever even before Scott’s injury. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tied L.A. to essentially all the top bullpen trade candidates over the weekend. Evan Phillips has already been lost for the season. Blake Treinen has been out since mid-April with a forearm injury. He’s expected back in the next few days. Michael Kopech will be out into late August at the earliest with a meniscus tear. Dodgers relievers rank 24th in the majors with a 4.35 earned run average.