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As we move into the dog days of summer, MLB bullpens are under the microscope with the trade deadline looming and postseason races intensifying. Roles are shifting, new names are emerging, and veteran closers are fighting to prove they still belong.
The Dodgers bullpen has quickly become one of the most volatile in fantasy baseball following a sudden chain of events this week. With Tanner Scott (pictured above) hitting the injured list on July 21, the door opened for veteran Kirby Yates to step into the closer role—but as we saw on July 23, that door might not stay open for long. Meanwhile, Alexis Díaz may be climbing fast.
Tanner Scott hits the IL with elbow discomfort
Scott exited his July 21 outing against the Twins with elbow discomfort and was officially placed on the 15-day injured list. While initial tests revealed no structural damage, the Dodgers are proceeding cautiously, leaving the closer role up in the air.
Kirby Yates gets the call and succeeds… then blows it
Yates, the logical short-term fill-in, earned the save on July 21 with a shaky but successful ninth. However, in his next appearance on July 23, he allowed three earned runs and blew the save, coughing up a 3–2 lead to the Twins. With a deep bullpen and no room for error in L.A., Yates’ grasp on the closer role already appears tenuous. The Dodgers appear to be moving toward a timeshare between Yates and left-hander Alex Vesia, who has been effective in lefty-heavy matchups and earned trust in high-leverage spots.
Blake Treinen nearing a return from injury
Treinen continued his rehab assignment with a dominant inning this week, striking out two in a perfect frame. Across six rehab appearances, he has allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out nine in six innings. The Dodgers plan to have him pitch again on July 24, aiming to test him on back-to-back days before making a final decision on activating him. If all goes well, Treinen could rejoin the big-league bullpen this weekend—adding another experienced late-inning option to an already deep relief corps.
Alexis Díaz recalled… and is effective in his first outing
On July 22, the Dodgers recalled former Reds closer Díaz, who had been working through mechanical adjustments in Triple-A. The 27-year-old owns over 60 career saves, and on July 23, he made a strong first impression—tossing a scoreless eighth inning with one strikeout and sitting 96–97 mph with his fastball. Díaz immediately enters the conversation for high-leverage work and could leapfrog Yates with another clean outing.
Trade deadline buzz: Emmanuel Clase on the horizon?
Multiple reports confirm the Dodgers are pursuing Guardians All-Star closer Clase, who would instantly become the ninth-inning anchor in L.A. Clase owns a 2.76 ERA and 20 saves this season, and the Dodgers are reportedly willing to part with upper-level prospects to make it happen before July 31.
A look at the Dodgers current bullpen situation
| Team | Current closer | Backup | Next option | Dark horse | Closer of the Future |
| Dodgers | Alex Vesia* | Kirby Yates* | Alexis Diaz | Jack Dreyer | Edgardo Henriquez |
Don’t miss the next big change
Closer roles are among the most fluid in fantasy baseball—and the biggest source of sneaky value. That’s why it’s essential to stay on top of bullpen usage, velocity trends, and manager comments.
Our Fantasy Baseball Closer Chart does just that. We monitor every MLB bullpen so you can act before your league-mates do.