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Tyler Glasnow of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws before the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium on May 17.
The Los Angeles Dodgers pitching staff is getting healthy, which isn’t great news for the rest of Major League Baseball.
On the same day Shohei Ohtani recorded his first strikeout in a Dodgers uniform, fellow ace-level starter Tyler Glasnow made a rehab start with Triple-A Oklahoma City and reliever Luis Garcia also threw in a minor-league game Sunday.
At 48-31, the Dodgers have the best record in the National League, despite the fact they have had 34 different pitchers and have had 16 different starting pitchers, by far the most in the National League.
Ohtani’s outing Sunday was his second start as he works his way back from a UCL tear, which he sustained as a member of the Los Angeles Angels in 2023.
Ideally, the Dodgers pitching will be in line for the playoffs, since the reigning World Series champs are trying to become the first team to repeat as champions since the Yankees in 1999-2000.
Is Tyler Glasnow Coming Back Soon?
Glasnow has made just 27 starts in two seasons, thanks to a rash of injuries that have kept him off the mound since the Dodgers acquired him from the Tampa Bay Rays for Ryan Pepiot and Jonny DeLuca on Dec. 16, 2023.
Glasnow is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in five starts before he was shut down with right-shoulder inflammation. He has not started a game in the majors since allowing two solo homers in his one-inning stint in LA’s 9-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 27.
“I was just putting a lot of stress on my shoulder,” Glasnow said, according to MLB.com earlier this month. “My [velocity] was down, stuff wasn’t good, command was really bad. And when it clicked, like anything, it was fine. But I just wasn’t on track and didn’t know how to fix it because it was just so new.”
But despite walking three, throwing just 22 strikes on 48 pitches and throwing a wild pitch, Glasnow threw a pair of scoreless innings for Oklahoma City against Round Rock, the Texas Rangers affiliate, on Sunday.
According to MLB.com, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has said Glasnow needs to complete three rehab starts and be built up to throw at least four innings before he will be considered an option to start games.
Sunday was the first step in a process that will likely end with Glasnow back in the Dodgers rotation shortly after the July 15 All-Star Game at Truist Park.
What Dodgers Pitchers Are Also Close To Returning?
Garcia has been on the IL since June 1 due to a right adductor strain, but he also started his way back to the majors by throwing just nine pitches and striking out two, while allowing a double in a rehab outing in Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.
Glasnow and Garcia appear closer than Dodgers ace starter Blake Snell, who is also rehabbing from an early-season injury. Snell has thrown just nine innings before, similar to his former-Rays teammate Glasnow, he landed on the IL with throwing-shoulder inflammation.
Snell has reportedly thrown five bullpen sessions but is not yet ready to face live hitters.
“I would say probably not,” Roberts said, according to Dodgerblue.com when asked if Snell was close to pitching against batters. “We got to do another ‘pen and we’ll see where we go. But I would just say overall, my idea of close is probably not, which could be different from yours.”
Pat Pickens is an experienced sports writer and media personality who has written for outlets like NHL.com, the Associated Press, the New York Times and USA Today. He covers the NFL, NBA, NHL and NBA as a breaking news contributor at Heavy. More about Pat Pickens
