Dodgers’ Tyler Glasnow Unlikely to Return This Season, Cleaned Out Locker at Truist Park
The Los Angeles Dodgers have likely seen the last of Tyler Glasnow this season, perhaps quite literally.
Out since August 11th due to right elbow tendinitis, Glasnow was working his way back and had eyes on returning to the Dodgers’ starting rotation before the playoffs but suffered a setback during Friday’s simulated game. Now, he’s been shut down indefinitely with what the team describes as a sprained elbow.
As such, the 2024 All-Star is “highly unlikely” to pitch again in 2024, manager Dave Roberts said prior to Saturday’s contest at Truist Park versus the Atlanta Braves.
Glasnow was originally scheduled for a two-to-three-inning simulated game in Atlanta that likely would’ve been his final step before rejoining the club’s starting staff. Instead, it’ll probably be the last time he steps on a mound this season.
“It’s a big blow,” Roberts told reporters Saturday, including ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez. “Looking at what he meant for our ballclub, what he’s done for us, what we expected him to do – certainly there’s going to be a cost. But we gotta move on and we will. We have a lot of capable people. I feel bad for Tyler because he did everything to stay healthy and get back, and it just wasn’t going to happen.”
One day later, Glasnow’s locker at Truist Park was empty, and his nameplate was removed, indicating he had left the team. When asked about this unexpected development, Roberts said he flew out of Atlanta prior to first pitch. But he added he didn’t know where he was flying to.
The 31-year-old righty declined to comment with reporters Friday and Saturday before leaving abruptly on Sunday.
Los Angeles was counting on Glasnow to help lead its starting rotation down the stretch and into the playoffs this year. But now that he’ll be unavailable, the club’s staff remains extremely thin on reliable options with just two weeks until the post-season begins.
As currently constructed, Jack Flaherty and Yoshinobu Yamamoto – who recently returned from a three-month absence – appear to be the only locks for the Dodgers in that regard. Beyond that, it’s unclear how they’ll fill out the rest of their playoff rotation.
Management acquired Glasnow in a blockbuster trade from the Tampa Bay Rays last winter, sending fellow starter Ryan Pepiot and outfielder Jonny DeLuca in return. Shortly afterwards, the club inked the marquee righty to a five-year, $136.6-million contract extension.
During his inaugural campaign, albeit an injury-plagued one, the 6-foot-8 hurler logged a career-high 134 innings over 22 starts, pitching to a 3.49 ERA and 2.90 FIP with 168 strikeouts. Additionally, he earned a 9-6 record, accounting for a 3.8 fWAR – also a career-high.
The Dodgers expect Glasnow to be ready for spring training in 2025, although those plans could change depending on the severity of his latest elbow ailment.
Los Angeles – which will conclude its four-game series against Atlanta on Monday – begins play with a 3.5-game lead over the second-place San Diego Padres for top spot in the NL West.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @Hall_Thomas_
Photo: Arturo Pardavila III. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.