It’s “highly unlikely” Tyler Glasnow will pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers again this season, manager Dave Roberts told reporters Saturday.
The right-hander was scheduled to throw a two-inning simulated game Friday as he continued to recover from right elbow tendinitis that put him on the injured list in mid-August. However, Glasnow felt uncomfortable after throwing 20 warm-up pitches and the session was interrupted.
Roberts called it a “setback” and predicted worse news was on the way. An MRI revealed a sprained right elbow.
Glasnow finishes his first season in Los Angeles with a 3.49 ERA, 168 strikeouts in 134 innings and a 9-6 record in 22 starts. The 134 innings are the most he has pitched in his nine major league seasons. Glasnow was acquired by the Dodgers from the Tampa Bay Rays last December and subsequently agreed to a five-year, $136.5 million contract.
Throughout his career, Glasnow has struggled with injuries, including landing on the disabled list in July with back soreness. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2022 after suffering from elbow and forearm injuries during his previous six seasons. But after pitching 120 innings and making 21 starts last season, the Dodgers were confident in signing Glasnow to a long-term contract.
In the short term, Los Angeles loses a key starting pitcher for its upcoming postseason run. The team had already lost rookie River Ryan, Tony Gonsolin and Emmet Sheehan, each of whom required season-ending surgery. Dustin May suffered a torn esophagus in July that ended his season.
Jack Flaherty and Yoshinobu Yamamoto are expected to be healthy through October, but the Dodgers had hoped most of their injured arms would be available for the playoffs. That won’t be the case now, as Glasnow’s season-ending injury added to the uncertainty regarding Clayton Kershaw, Gavin Stone, Walker Buehler and Bobby Miller.
Rookie Landon Knack is also questionable as a reliable option after allowing five runs, seven hits and two walks in Friday’s 6-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves.