The Rays announced this morning that they’ve activated right-hander Tyler Glasnow from the injured list. In a corresponding move, right-hander Cooper Criswell was optioned to Triple-A. Glasnow will start this afternoon’s game against the Dodgers.
Today’s start will not only be Glasnow’s 2023 debut, but just his third regular season appearance since he underwent Tommy John surgery midway through the 2021 campaign. One of the most talented pitchers in the sport, the hulking 6’8” righty owns a phenomenal 2.75 ERA, 51% better than league average, with a 2.87 FIP since the start of the 2019 season with a phenomenal 36% strikeout rate and a 7.8% walk rate. Of course, that amazing production has come across just 212 2/3 innings of work in that four year span, as Glasnow has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career. The 29-year-old has eclipsed 100 innings pitched in a season just once to this point in his career, when he threw 111 2/3 innings in 2018.
Despite the volume issues, it’s hard to overstate what a boost to the Rays a healthy Glasnow figures to be. While the club’s collective 3.67 ERA ranks fourth in baseball- even after a 20-1 drubbing by the Blue Jays that saw the club’s position players give up half of the total runs- the losses of Drew Rasmussen and Jeffrey Springs have left the club’s rotation largely operating with just three regular starters in Shane McClanahan, Zach Eflin, and Taj Bradley. Glasnow’s return figures to not only solidify that group, but add bonafide ace-caliber production to the front of the rotation.
As for Criswell, the 26-year-old righty has pitched 15 1/3 innings for the Rays this season, though the results have left much to be desired as Criswell owns a 6.46 ERA and 5.37 FIP in that time. Though his 23.9% strikeout rate and 8.5% walk rate are both acceptable figures, and a .381 BABIP suggests there could be some flukiness to his results, three home runs allowed in his four appearances certainly leaves plenty of reason for concern. Criswell will attempt to get things back on track at Triple-A Durham, serving as depth for the club in the meantime.
GO RAYS!!!
That’s all the best team in baseball needs is getting their Ace back, lol. What a well run franchise apart from their stadium situation.
The only sealed dome left in mlb. The most gothic park in all of baseball. But, as I’ve been around since its creation; I gotta say; i’m gonna kinda miss Tropicana Field *the most hilariously misleading named ball park
It’s amazing how good an organization the Rays are considering their budget. They have a remarkable ability to see major league talent in players other teams wouldn’t even look at. I can’t wait for Glasgow to come back. I hope the Rays or O’s win the ALE.
I’m a Yankee fan, but I agree on the Rays. Their fans get shafted with a lousy facility. But the baseball folks know what they’re doing.
Over/under for the next Glasnow injury is set at 10 days. Anyone want the over?
I’ll take the under
I was gonna set it at 50 innings
Glass now could break his record this year. In 7 seasons the most games he’s ever started was 14. He’s already at 2.
He’s not glass now but he will be in ten days?
I’m thinking 3 to 4 innings a start would be great For Tyler and the Rays. Then eventually let him build to 5 + innings
Rays going to run away with the division now.
He won’t change much for them. Long layoff and they’ll be extra cautious with him. It’ll help the Rays but not enough to run away with anything
The optics of his return are as much a boon to this team as him successfully returning to his full starting workload. This has a similar effect to a late season upgrade trade.
The OPPORTUNITY is there for this, but he basically hasn’t pitched in two years and is coming off of TJS. You may want to temper your expectations a bit.
Glasgow is in some regards a generational talent but if he gets 100 innings in this year it would surprise me and at $10M does not seem like all that great of a deal.
Generational?
Whole generations are spawned between his starts.
My point was that any knowledgeable baseball observer would see the word “ talent” and agree that his is rare.
Rare as in seldom-sighted. Like the Loch Ness Monster, Sasquatch, or 4-leaf clovers.
Rare as seldom sighted,but real nonetheless.
Almost like a blue moon,but actually slightly more common.
True. Not rare as in a steak, pink in the middle.
Merged into compromise agreement,and not as rare as such in the current state of national politics.
I bid you adieu mac.
He’d fit nicely in a 22-man rotation.