Dodgers right-hander Tyler Glasnow landed on the 15-day injured list two weeks ago due to right elbow tendinitis. At the time, the righty said the ailment was “nothing super concerning to me,” per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. But it seems things have gotten murkier since then. Last weekend, manager Dave Roberts told reporters that Glasnow’s return would be a “slow process” but that his season wasn’t in jeopardy. Last night, when asked if Glasnow would return this year, Roberts was noncommittal.
“We’re hopeful,” he said, per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times on X. “I think hopeful. I think that there’s still a lot of variables, to be certain. But I think everyone in the organization is hopeful.” The righty is planning to play catch today and through the weekend. Roberts was asked if Glasnow would still be ramped up if he continues to feel discomfort. “I’m not sure about that,” he said, per Harris. “I do know right now, when you’re starting up, you’re probably looking for pain-free. I think that’s probably the start. But it’s a fair question.”
It would appear to be a less than ideal development, given that the prognosis seems to be getting less optimistic. Glasnow’s health has been in the spotlight for most of his professional career. He dealt with elbow issues during his time with the Rays, including a Tommy John surgery, and never topped 120 innings in a season with that club. He’s up to 134 innings with the Dodgers this year, setting a new career high, but it hasn’t been totally smooth sailing. He missed two weeks around the All-Star break due to some lower back tightness and now his elbow is again the focus.
When on the mound, he’s been his usual self, giving up some home runs but also racking up lots of strikeouts. He’s allowed 3.49 earned runs per nine frames on the year, striking out 32.2% of batters faced while limiting walks to a 6.7% clip. His 48.6% ground ball rate is also strong but his 15 home runs allowed have put some runs on the board.
All together, Glasnow is one of the better pitchers on the club. Despite various injury issues around the roster, the Dodgers are currently the best team in baseball at 80-54. Still, fans of the club will likely be worrying about a repeat of last year, when the club’s dominant regular season was quickly undercut by a lack of rotation health for the playoffs.
The Dodgers went 100-62 last year and earned a bye through the Wild Card round but were quickly swept by the Diamondbacks in the Division Series. By that time, Julio Urías was on the restricted list due to domestic violence charges while each of Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin and Walker Buehler were all out due to significant surgeries. Clayton Kershaw wasn’t on the IL but was clearly battling shoulder problems that eventually required surgery in the offseason. Lance Lynn had been fighting home run problems all year, which followed him into the postseason.
This year, Glasnow’s status is up in the air. May is out for the year due to surgery again, this time due to a tear in his esophagus. River Ryan and Emmet Sheehan both required Tommy John surgeries.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been on the IL since June due to a rotator cuff strain, though he seems to be nearing a return. He started a rehab assignment on Wednesday night, tossing 31 pitches over two innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Assuming he doesn’t experience any kind of setback, he should make a few more rehab outings as he builds up that pitch count and could be back with the big league club before the regular season is out. Prior to hitting the IL, he had posted a 2.92 ERA in his first 14 major league starts.
Right now, the rotation consists of Kershaw, Buehler, Jack Flaherty, Bobby Miller and Gavin Stone. Kershaw has a solid 3.72 ERA in his return from shoulder surgery but with a 19% strikeout rate that’s below average and well shy of his previous form. The velocity on all his pitches is a bit below where he was last year, prior to going under the knife. Flaherty is having a strong season but has health questions of his own, as he dealt with some back problems with the Tigers which reportedly scuttled a deal to the Yankees before he was traded to the Dodgers. Both Miller and Buehler have struggled significantly this year.
It’s still possible that the Dodgers will be compiling a postseason rotation from a strong group including Stone, Flaherty, Yamamoto, Glasnow and Kershaw, though Stone is the only one without a notable health concern this year. If things go well with Yamamoto and Glasnow in the coming weeks, things will be looking pretty good, but it will be a situation worth monitoring in the coming weeks.
Circling back to Gonsolin, it’s possible he could return this year, but he wouldn’t be fully stretched out. Roberts said this week that the door is “a little open” for the righty to return as a reliever, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic on X.
He underwent Tommy John surgery almost exactly a year ago, on September 1 of 2023, so now is a natural time in the rehab process to start ramping up. He has been throwing live bullpens and could start a rehab assignment soon. The righty had a 3.19 career ERA, having started 71 of his 79 outings. Coming back as a reliever could be a boon to the pitching staff while also laying a small foundation for his 2025 season. He can be controlled via arbitration through 2026.
I think the dodgers need to spend some money
Anybody else think that was a picture of Zack Grenkie for a minute?
I thought it was Cillian Murphy.
With Glasnow and Yamamoto out, the rotation #4 and #5 guys are Miller and Buehler. Dodgers just won their starts against the team with the 5th best record in baseball. I think they can find a way to muddle through.
Dodgers line up is very top heavy
So is Dolly Parton. She fared well. Taylor and Barnes were ok last night too.
yeah, yeah. Instead of Murderers Row, we call it Murderers Rack
Dodgers suffering from a win-heavy lineup.
Oh those things, those darned things!
Anyhow, this is another amusing take on injured pitchers. Here’s a question: if you made lists of pitchers who’ve been in the major leagues for more than a couple of years, one for every pitcher who hasn’t been on the IL and another for those who have, which list would be longer?
We all know the answer, right?
Good lord… top heavy? Betts, Freeman, Ohtani, Muncy, Hernandez, Smith… and Lux has been well above average since all star break but I’ll leave him out for the sake of the argument as well as Rojas who is actually hitting well this year.
Seems like the dodgers top half leaks down into the bottom of their lineup. While I’d admit the production from the top 4-5 in the lineup is more than most of the other teams full line-ups, I’d say they aren’t as top heavy as you’d think if you actually watched and paid any attention to a Dodgers series.
Just like the mariners lineups in the late 90s and early 2000s where we had HOF hitters and all stars but no depth behind them!
When I look at the dodgers lineups every day their 7 8 9 hitters seem to be what’s pulling the offense down
STNMF
“When I look at the dodgers lineups every day their 7 8 9 hitters seem to be what’s pulling the offense down”
Which team is this not true for?
Of course not every lineup is the 1920s Yankees but the dodgers had pretty bad production from them this year compared to other teams
It was arguably top-heavy earlier in the season when Lux was nonproductive and Muncy, Betts, and Freeman were out for various stints. The bottom half became a struggling Taylor, Hernandez, and the likes of Biggio and other fill-ins. Much better now.
Friedman needs to find a happy medium between potential and availability. Cuz the last couple seasons, the potential hasn’t been available for the playoffs. Dude needs to sign a guy or two whose arms won’t be falling off in October….
Glasnow missing time truly isn’t a problem. He needs the rest he’s already at a career high in innings pitched and the Dodgers plan on making a deep postseason run.
My guess is the 4 man rotation will be Yammamoto, Glasnow, Kershaw and Flaherty when the playoffs start. And that’s certainly good enough to win it all.
Hopefully Stone ahead of Kershaw
Could go either way, depending on the last month of the season. It would be strange times indeed to see a healthy Kershaw left off a playoff roster.
Ohtani’s dog could make a spot start if needed
The Dodgers know they will win their division so they are targeting good health for the playoffs. They are probably trying to make things seem more ominous so they don’t get busted by MLB for phantom IL visits. Glasnow was a fool for saying he didn’t think he was injured.
Ah, another MLBTR Dodger article. With comments barely if at all referencing the subject of the actual article, dominated either by haters or gloaters.
Is anyone in LA actually concerned about Glasnow? As the article states, the prognosis seems to be getting less optimistic.
Brew: Of course there is concern about Glasnow. The calendar is an immutable reminder that time is very short for him to be ready–never mind at his best–for October. And Yamamoto is far from certain. But what is to be done other than put the best available guys on the hill when the postseason arrives?
Mojo. I have to admit the article caught me by surprise, I was of the opinion (and my Dodger friends sort of thought this as well), that this was more about rest for him than anything. I’ve always liked Glasnow and would hate to see this be a serious issue for him. In the best of worlds one hopes that all the playoff teams are at full strength.
Thanks Brew. I’m with you. Let’s put the best teams on the field and battle it out. I don’t believe the Dodgers are playing games with the phantom IL in order to rest the pitchers for October. Never did. It’s a bit odd that Glas fought the current IL stint in the beginning and now it’s turned into a much longer stint than anticipated but on the other hand I’ve never seen a competitive pitcher do anything other than say “I can finish it coach” or “I feel fine” even when to everyone else it’s clear he isn’t. Guys like Glas don’t give up easily. I’m hopeful Glas gets ready in time for October but if he doesn’t, LAD has a lot of strong arms. And an offense that can cover a lot of weak innings. Good luck to your squad.
Yes the star-power gets the accolades, but LA’s SP depth has paid off.
Hey at least we got close enough ever so briefly to read your license plate. Hopefully Tatis and Yu and HSK get back in there soon and Pads catch a 2nd wind. It’s a confusing choice, but I’m sort of preferring you guys win the series against AZ this weekend just to help us in WC standings.
all you have to do is finish a strong third. then you get the snakes in the first round. hope you do. and if you pass them, so much the better. The Braves may be more of a threat to the Friars. But if the Braves pass you all that happens is you move to the other bracket.
The Dodgers are being pretty vague about what is going on with Glasnow. Of course they are under no obligation to do otherwise. A similar situation developed with Hudson. He was never put on the IL, he just wasn’t used for over a week. Then he makes an appearance in last night’s game and sure enough didn’t look like his old self. General fatigue? We can only read between the lines, I guess.
I want the Phillies, seeking revenge for 2022
So…Glasnow’s season is over?
Says who?
The only team on earth that could lose Tyler Glasnow and still have spent enough money to overcome it. Ridiculous. Ain’t no lie the Dodgers buy buy buy.
“Still have spent..Buy, buy, buy”..Normally I might agree that ongoing, massive spending on talent will eventually backfire and not have the desired effect(see N.Y Yankees 2010-present)but I do have to ask you one question? Have you seen the daily, packed, overflow crowds at Chavez Ravine? When you routinely bring in 125,000 fans for a 3 game weekend series, it makes perfect sense to reinvest large amounts back into the core product(I’ve read the Dodgers expect to make close to $2B on the Ohtani deal over the next 15+ yrs).
Plus, the Dodgers draft and develop fairly well so it’s not like they get all their players on the open market. When they do spend, it’s usually on the right players, unlike some teams.
The Dodgers are very profitable on an annual basis(having made the playoffs 10+ str8 yrs)and team evaluation has increased 50% under current ownership, so why not “spend”?
At least they spend well, unlike some other teams.
In fairness, the Dodgers have a lower payroll pretty much exclusively because of the backload deal they cut with Ohtani. Good on them – they found a taker, they made it work.
Not so. These totals count Ohtani’s bux to the tune of 46.1 mill which is the amount used for luxury tax calculation. spotrac.com/mlb/payroll/_/year/2024/sort/cap_total…
Even with the additional 23.9 million Dodgers are still the 4th highest payroll.
Actually with the injuries this year not only from the pitchers but also the hitters is amazing they have done as well as they have. If I were a Dodger fan I’d be more concerned about the way Dave Roberts mismanages,especially in the playoffs
lol. uh huh. who do you think is managing around all those injuries? all Dave Roberts can do is use the players he’s given.
And the analytics he gets from the FO.
Last night the Dodgers batted Tommy Edmon in the cleanup spot. Whoa, I thought that was pretty unconventional. Who came up with that idea? Then I realized, it’s all math — just like everything else in the game today.
Was also the “B” team last night. No Freddie, No Max. No Will. Pre-game the lineup looked a tad weak. Post-game the lineup looked brilliant.
By the way, I still say Pages is coming up Sunday.
Pretty much. What did they say about the unusual lineup on teevee, if anything? I watched this one from the seats.
They joked about Edman’s cleanup spot when he hit the 12 foot roller. Other than that not much talk, though Dave made it clear all the big dogs are playing tonight and throughout the weekend. Was the first time in his career Edman hit 4th. Only other spot he hasn’t hit is 3rd.
So are you my go-to for playoff tix?
SeatGeek my friend. I’ll end up with two possibly three games when our season ticket group divvies up the tickets.
didn’t really think you could part with any. enjoy it. I’ll get in somehow.
Ya wait till the playoffs
will be certain to seek out your expert opinion
they should give Landon Knack a couple of starts in the coming weeks to see where he’s at.
Wrobleski likely to start Sunday. Knack pitched this week for OKC and is unavailable until later. But they know what Knack can do. He’s solid.
If I’m not mistaken Buehler is a free agent after this year. Should be interesting to see where he lands this winter, but my guess is it will be a 1-year deal only. Also Ohtani returns to the mound next spring which will only add to the endless intrigue that has been the Dodger rotation for many years now.
You are not mistaken. Depending on how he looks over the next few starts, he might be a good candidate for a QO.
Hope they can afford to keep Jack. Love his compete.
I think they let him walk. I suppose it’s possible he does a complete 180 in September, and maybe the Dodgers can afford $21m to insure for an injury to a better pitcher. But if they are going to spend like that I’d rather they chip in a little more for a longer term deal for someone like Fried.
He’s getting better with each start, but he’ll still be looking for a one year rebuilding contract. He will probably have to take less than the QO value though.
where do I sign?