Dodgers Notes: Freeman, Glasnow, Rojas, Sheehan
Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman led his team to the World Series championship in 2024, with series MVP honors to prove it. That postseason run came at the expense of his health, however, as he played through a bone bruise and sprain in his right ankle that eventually required him to undergo surgery in early December. At the time, the Dodgers suggested that Freeman would be able to “participate in baseball activities” during Spring Training, but that vague timeline did not set a date for when he would be ready to participate in games again.
Freeman himself offered a bit of clarity on the situation to reporters during the Dodgers FanFest event today. As noted by Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Freeman has resumed swinging a bat again but has yet to start running to this point. With the start of Spring Training a matter of weeks away, it’s hardly a surprise that Freeman indicated he won’t be available for the first games of Cactus League play this spring. Freeman did say that he “expects” to be ready for the start of the Dodgers’ season in Tokyo on March 18, though of course with that just six weeks away a setback in his recovery could alter that timeline.
That Freeman should be ready for the start of the season is surely a relief for Dodgers fans, though it would hardly be a surprise if the club opted to be as careful with him as possible in order to ensure he starts the season on the right foot with as good of health as possible. The slugger’s .282/.378/.476 slash line in 147 games for the Dodgers in his age-34 campaign last year was a modest step back from his back-to-back top-4 MVP finishes in 2022 and ’23 but was still more than enough to put him on the shortlist for the very best first basemen in the sport last year. Freeman once again figures to help anchor the Dodgers lineup alongside fellow former MVPs Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani in 2025. It’s a lineup that largely looks the same as last year, though Michael Conforto has replaced Jason Heyward in the outfield mix while Hyeseong Kim has taken over for Gavin Lux at the keystone.
Aside from Freeman, however, the club appears to be generally healthy headed into Spring Training when looking at players who are expected to impact the 2025 team on Opening Day. Right-hander Tyler Glasnow was shut down in August due to an elbow sprain, but Dodgers Insider relays that Glasnow spoke at today’s fan event as well. The right-hander revealed that he’s resumed throwing and is feeling “as good as [he’s] ever felt.” The 31-year-old is one of the most dominant hurlers in the sport when healthy, but his 22 starts last year were a career high as he’s constantly battled injury woes throughout his career. With Glasnow seemingly poised to be ready for the start of the season, the Dodgers will surely hope that their plans to use a six-man rotation this year in order to accommodate Ohtani in his return to pitching can help Glasnow stay healthy enough to pitch for them in the postseason this year after he missed last year’s World Series run.
Turning back to the position player side of things, veteran infielder Miguel Rojas joined Freeman in playing through injury during the postseason and underwent sports hernia surgery after the season concluded. As noted by Ardaya, Rojas spoke about his recovery process during today’s fan event and revealed that he suffered from a post-surgery infection that delayed his ability to rehab for a couple of weeks. Fortunately, that now appears to be behind him as Rojas indicated he remains on track to be fully ready for Spring Training when it begins later this month. The addition of Kim in conjunction with Betts’s move back to the infield leaves Rojas without an everyday role headed into 2025, but he managed to carve out a role for himself in 103 games under similar circumstances last year despite a trip to the injured list.
As for players who aren’t expected to be ready for Opening Day, Ardaya notes that right-hander Emmet Sheehan provided an update on his recovery from Tommy John surgery for the first time since he went under the knife last May. The right-hander has resumed throwing off a mound at this point in his rehab and added that he hopes to start pitching in rehab games come May or June. That timeline would put him on the mound for those games just over a year after his surgery, putting him more or less on track for a normal recovery and to be a depth option out of the rotation or bullpen for L.A. in the second half this year.
NL Injury Notes: Glasnow, Hicks, Wicks, Kinley
The Dodgers moved Tyler Glasnow to the 60-day injured list on Wednesday, all but officially ruling him out for the rest of the season. The lanky right-hander spoke with reporters (including Jack Harris and Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times) and essentially confirmed he won’t be back in the playoffs. Glasnow called it “extremely frustrating” to be dealing with an elbow sprain, though he indicated he’s confident he will not require any kind of surgical repair.
Glasnow tossed 134 innings across 22 starts in his first season with the Dodgers. He established new career marks in both categories, though the season-ending elbow injury isn’t going to quiet concerns about his durability. Glasnow remained effective as ever before the injury, turning in a 3.49 ERA with a 32.2% strikeout rate.
A few more Senior Circuit injury notes as noncompetitive teams shut some players down:
- Shoulder inflammation sent Jordan Hicks to the injured list, ending his season. The Giants recalled Austin Warren to take his spot in the bullpen. Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle writes that Hicks will go for an MRI tomorrow. The first season of his four-year, $44MM free agent deal was a mixed bag. Hicks moved to the rotation for the first extended stretch of his career. The sinkerballer pitched well early, carrying a 2.70 ERA in 12 appearances through the end of May. He seemed to wear down quickly thereafter, allowing a 6.37 ERA over his next eight starts. The Giants moved him back to the bullpen at the end of July, but he continued to struggle in relief. Hicks allowed nearly five earned runs per nine with six strikeouts and walks apiece over 11 frames out of the ‘pen.
- The Cubs placed left-hander Jordan Wicks on the injured list with a right oblique strain. Trey Wingenter is up from Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move. Wicks had returned from a stint on the 60-day IL at the start of September. That was also on account of a right oblique strain, while the southpaw also missed time with an early-season forearm problem. It’s a frustrating second season for the former first-round pick. Wicks struggled when healthy enough to take the mound, allowing a 5.48 ERA across 46 innings in 11 appearances (10 starts).
- Rockies closer Tyler Kinley landed on the shelf with elbow inflammation. Colorado recalled Jake Bird to take the open bullpen spot. It’s his second elbow-related IL stint in as many months. Kinley missed the second half of 2022 and most of last season after undergoing elbow surgery. He was healthy for most of this year but hasn’t found anything close to the success he enjoyed before the surgery two years ago. Kinley allowed a 6.19 ERA over 64 innings. He fanned a quarter of batters faced but walked more than 11% of opponents while struggling with the home run ball.
Dodgers Select Zach Logue
The Dodgers announced that they have reinstated right-hander Joe Kelly from the 15-day injured list and selected the contract of left-hander Zach Logue. Righties Bobby Miller and Michael Grove were optioned in corresponding moves. Righty Tyler Glasnow was transferred to the 60-day IL to open a 40-man spot for Logue.
Logue just signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers last week. He had previously been with Atlanta but elected free agency after being designated for assignment. Since he signed after the end of August, Logue isn’t eligible to join the Dodgers for the postseason, but he’ll give them a fresh arm in the bullpen as they look to get through the regular season.
Despite briefly being on Atlanta’s roster, Logue hasn’t yet pitched in the big leagues this season, but his results on the farm have been good. He has made 25 appearances in the minors, 12 of those being starts. In his 97 1/3 innings, he has allowed 2.59 earned runs per nine. He has struck out 23.2% of batters faced while limiting walks to a 7.1% walk rate.
Since signing with the Dodgers, he made one start at Triple-A, lasting three innings. Perhaps he will provide the club with a multi-inning arm out of the bullpen, though Miller’s option also creates a hole in the rotation. The club also gives Yoshinobu Yamamoto more than four days between starts, meaning occasional bullpen games or spot starts are necessary.
Whatever shape it comes in, Logue’s contributions with the Dodgers should allow him to add to a spotty major league résumé. Once a notable prospect with the Jays, he went to the Athletics in the March 2022 trade that sent Matt Chapman north of the border. But Logue put up a 6.79 ERA with the A’s in 2022 and went to the Tigers on waivers. With Detroit, he put up a 7.36 ERA in 2023 and lost his roster spot.
That gives him a career ERA of 6.88 in 68 major league innings but his minor league results have been more encouraging this year. If he manages to hold onto a 40-man roster spot through the winter, he has less than a year of service time and can be retained well into the future but he’ll be out of options next year.
As for Glasnow, he landed on the 15-day IL August 13 due to right elbow tendinitis. It was revealed a few days ago that he has a sprain and is unlikely to return to the team this year. This transfer doesn’t close the door to a return in the playoffs. The 60-day count is retroactive to his initial IL placement, so he could technically be reinstated in the middle of October if he can return to health.
Tyler Glasnow “Highly Unlikely” To Return This Year Due To Elbow Sprain
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts delivered some tough news to reporters this afternoon, as he indicated to the team’s beat (including Juan Toribio of MLB.com) that right-hander Tyler Glasnow has been diagnosed with a sprained elbow and will be shut down indefinitely, leaving him “highly unlikely” to pitch again in 2024. Glasnow suffered a setback in his throwing program yesterday and underwent testing that ultimately revealed the sprain.
The update is a devastating blow to a Dodgers rotation that has been in flux for much of the year due to injuries despite the extreme depth they came into the season with on paper. The 30-year-old Glasnow was an All-Star for the first time in his career during his debut season with L.A. and posted a 3.49 ERA with a 2.90 FIP and a 32.2% strikeout rate this year, but he was unfortunately limited to just 22 starts and 134 innings this season. While that volume falls short of a full season of work, both totals actually constitute career-bests for the righty, whose previous career-highs were set last year at 21 starts and 120 innings of work respectively.
Glasnow’s lack of durability throughout his big league career didn’t deter the Dodgers from dealing outfielder Jonny DeLuca and right-hander Ryan Pepiot to the Rays to acquire him alongside outfielder Manuel Margot this offseason, nor did it get in the way of the club finalizing an extension that guaranteed the right-hander just over $111.5MM in new money from 2025 to 2028. Pepiot, who has posted a 3.76 ERA in 23 starts with the Rays this year, has dealt with injury issues of his own this season, and given Glasnow’s success with the club when healthy the Dodgers surely don’t regret adding his top-of-the-rotation caliber arm to their starting mix.
That doesn’t make the news regarding Glasnow’s likely absence from their postseason run any less frustrating, however. The Dodgers laid out well over a billion dollars in guaranteed contracts this winter in pursuit of their first World Series championship in a full season since 1988 and in doing so added Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Teoscar Hernandez to a core of players that already included stars such as Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts. While the additions of Hernandez and Ohtani have taken the club’s offense to new levels even in spite of absences from Betts and Freeman throughout the year, the rotation once again figures to be a significant question mark for the club this October without Glasnow to help stabilize things.
Yamamoto returned from the 60-day injured list earlier this month and figures to start Game 1 for the Dodgers this winter, with deadline acquisition Jack Flaherty standing out as their most likely contender to start Game 2. Who will follow those two in the club’s postseason rotation is not yet clear, however. Walker Buehler and Bobby Miller have both struggled badly in the majors this year with ERAs of 5.95 and 8.17 respectively, making them lackluster options to start potentially pivotal playoff games. Rookie Landon Knack has pitched fairly well in ten starts for the club this year, but the Dodgers surely would prefer a more experienced arm to follow Yamamoto and Flaherty.
Of course, the returns of other injured pitchers could help to bolster the club’s rotation ahead of October. Rookie Gavin Stone would be a tantalizing option given his 3.53 ERA in 25 starts this year, but the righty is currently on the shelf due to elbow inflammation with no clear timetable for return. Veteran southpaw Clayton Kershaw is also on the injured list, but has expressed hope that he’ll be able to return this year and would help to fortify the club’s rotation mix even as he’s posted a pedestrian 4.50 ERA in seven starts this year. Roberts also suggested earlier this week that there was a “very slim” possibility that Ohtani could be made available to pitch during the postseason, but it’s impossible to imagine the Dodgers changing their plans for the superstar based on today’s news regarding Glasnow.
Tyler Glasnow Has Setback During Throwing Session
While warming up in advance of a simulated game on Friday, Tyler Glasnow felt “discomfort” in his right arm, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told the Orange County Register’s Bill Plunkett and other reporters. Glasnow will undergo testing this weekend to see if any structural issues are present, and “I just know we’re going to re-assess and see how he feels over the coming days, see where we can pick up throwing again,” Roberts said.
Even in the best-case scenario of a clean MRI, there’s still plenty of uncertainty over what this setback means for Glasnow’s chances of a return. The regular season ends just over two weeks’ time, and while the Dodgers are a virtual lock to make the playoffs, it is far from a certainty whether or not Glasnow will be fully healthy and ramped up in time to join a postseason roster. The minor league season ends next weekend and it therefore seems unlikely Glasnow will be ready for a rehab assignment, so he’d have to rely on simulated games or other types of prep work that don’t involve a proper in-game setting.
Elbow tendinitis has kept Glasnow from pitching since August 11, cutting short a quality season that had seen the right-hander post a 3.49 ERA and an outstanding 32.2% strikeout rate over 134 innings. As Plunkett notes, 109 of those innings came before Glasnow was placed on the 15-day IL in early July due to lower back soreness, and the righty returned from that injury to make four starts before he was sidelined with his elbow issue.
Glasnow’s lengthy injury history is well-documented, and his 134 innings already represents a career high over his nine MLB seasons. In regards to his elbow specifically, Glasnow had a Tommy John surgery in 2021 that cost him almost all of his 2022 campaign with the Rays, save for two regular-season games and a playoff appearance. An oblique strain then delayed the start of his 2023 season by two months, but he otherwise stayed healthy and posted a 3.53 ERA in 120 innings for Tampa. This performance inspired the Dodgers to both acquire Glasnow in a major offseason trade, and also to sign him to a $136.5MM extension that runs through the 2028 season.
In the more immediate term, of course, Los Angeles faces the prospect of not having Glasnow available for his first postseason in Dodger Blue. Yesterday’s news is an unfortunate continuation of the pitching injuries that have hampered the Dodgers all season, as 17 different pitchers have made at least one start for the club in 2024.
At present, L.A.’s rotation consists of Jack Flaherty, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Walker Buehler, Bobby Miller, and Landon Knack. Beyond Glasnow, Roberts said Gavin Stone (on the IL since August 31 due to right shoulder inflammation) will start a throwing program this weekend but Stone’s timeline is still uncertain. Tony Gonsolin will make his second minor league rehab start on Sunday he works his way back from Tommy John surgery, though Roberts previously downplayed the chances of Gonsolin returning in time for regular-season work or any playoff availability. Clayton Kershaw is throwing off a portable mound but is still being bothered by the bone spur in his big left toe.
Given all of the question marks the Dodgers’ pitching staff faces as the postseason approaches, Roberts raised a bit of a stir in an interview on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM when he implied there was a slim possibility Shohei Ohtani could pitch in the playoffs. Ohtani underwent UCL surgery almost exactly one year ago and wasn’t expected to return to pitching until 2025, though he started to throw as part of his established rehab plan.
Roberts revisited the topic in speaking with Plunkett and company yesterday, noting that while “it’s not a zero percent chance” that Ohtani is available to pitch, “the odds of it coming to pass are very slim.” The Dodgers haven’t yet even talked with Ohtani about pitching in 2024, and Roberts noted that “the conversation would be, ‘put it out of your head.’ ” Obviously the club doesn’t want to do anything that will jeopardize Ohtani’s long-term pitching future, or even do anything that would impact his availability as a hitter for at least this year’s playoffs.
Dodgers Notes: Banda, Gonsolin, Glasnow
The Dodgers placed left-hander Anthony Banda on the 15-day injured list with a broken hand yesterday — a surprising move given that there was no prior indication of an injury issue that’d been plaguing the southpaw. As it turns out, Banda’s injury was self-inflicted. Manager Dave Roberts confirmed to the Dodgers beat last night that the lefty sustained a hairline fracture after he hit “a solid object” out of frustration following a rough outing wherein he yielded a pair of runs on three hits in one inning of work during a loss to the Cubs (video link via Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain). Banda is hardly the first player to injure himself in such a manner, but that surely doesn’t make the scenario any less frustrating for the Dodgers and their fans.
That’s particularly true given that while the 31-year-old Banda is a journeyman who joined the Dodgers in a minor league trade with the Guardians (in exchange for cash), he’s become an important piece of the team’s relief corps. In 47 1/3 innings this year, the former top prospect has notched a career-low 3.23 earned run average with a 24.8% strikeout rate (another career-best mark) against an 8.9% walk rate that’s right in line with the 9% league average among relievers.
Banda initially worked in low-leverage situations after being selected to the 40-man roster in L.A., but he’s earned more trust from Roberts as the season has worn on. He’s picked up nine holds and a pair of saves, nearly all of which have come in the season’s second half. Michael Kopech has emerged as the Dodgers’ highest-leverage arm since being acquired at the trade deadline, but Banda ranks second on the team in holds since the All-Star break.
The Dodgers can still control Banda via arbitration for another three seasons if they choose, so the injury doesn’t necessarily spell the end of his time with the team. It may not even spell the end of his season. Roberts said that for now, the plan is for several days without throwing, but the skipper did not rule out the possibility that Banda could be built back up in time to rejoin the team at some point. Obviously, if the Dodgers go on a deep postseason run, Banda’s chances of contributing again this season will only increase.
There are also questions about another bullpen option’s ability to contribute this year, though they’ve been well documented and don’t come as a huge surprise. Right-hander Tony Gonsolin underwent Tommy John surgery late last August, which always made him a long shot to contribute this season. The Dodgers still haven’t firmly closed the door on the possibility of Gonsolin returning, but it increasingly looks like a long shot. Roberts, who left the door open for a potential bullpen role for Gonsolin when asked about the possibility last month, told reporters yesterday that it’s “unlikely” Gonsolin will contribute this season (link via Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic).
General manager Brandon Gomes wouldn’t make a firm declaration, saying Gonsolin’s 2024 status is “TBD” while simultaneously acknowledging that the primary focus at this point is “building a foundation” for next season (X thread via Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register). That certainly doesn’t sound like a portent for a 2024 return, but Gomes didn’t expressly rule out the possibility, suggesting that if “things line up” they could “have a conversation” about Gonsolin returning.
While things are up in the air regarding Gonsolin’s status, it seems the Dodgers are increasingly optimistic that top starter Tyler Glasnow will return in time for the playoffs. Currently on the injured list with tendinitis in his right elbow, Glasnow threw his full complement of pitches yesterday in his second bullpen session in a week’s time, per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times. He’ll throw a simulated game on Friday and move to a rehab assignment if that goes well. Via Harris, Roberts said that he liked what he saw in Glasnow’s bullpen session and called it a “priority” to get him back into a big league game before the regular season draws to a close.
If the Dodgers are able to get Glasnow back, they could theoretically head into the playoffs with a rotation including Glasnow, Jack Flaherty and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who looked excellent in his own return from the injured list this week.
Latest On Dodgers’ Rotation
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.
Dodgers Notes: Ohtani, Yamamoto, Glasnow
Dodgers phenom Shohei Ohtani just took the first major step towards his anticipated return to pitching next season. As noted by The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya, Ohtani threw off the mound for the first time since he underwent elbow surgery just over eleven months ago. While today’s ten-pitch bullpen session won’t change the fact that Ohtani isn’t going to pitch in the majors this year, it’s the latest indicator that the league’s biggest star is well on his way to returning to two-way play in time for the Dodgers to open the 2025 regular season with a two-game set against the Cubs in Japan next year.
While Ohtani won’t throw an official pitch for the Dodgers in the first year of his record-shattering ten-year deal with the club, that hasn’t stopped the 30-year-old from being a dominant force for the club as they head for their 12th-consecutive playoff appearance. Ohtani is currently the consensus favorite for this year’s NL MVP award, which would be the third MVP of his career after he captured the AL MVP award in both 2021 and 2023 with the Angels. In 126 games with the Dodgers this year, Ohtani has slashed an incredible .292/.378/.614 (170 wRC+) across 578 trips to the plate. He became just the sixth player in MLB history to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in a season last night, joining Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Alfonso Soriano, and Ronald Acuna Jr.
That dominant offensive performance has allowed Ohtani to emerge as the most consistent threat in a star-studded Dodgers lineup. That’s thanks in part to his sturdiness; while fellow superstars Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman have both missed time this year, Ohtani has appeared in 126 of the Dodgers’ 129 games, leaving him tied with Teoscar Hernandez for the club lead in games played this year. With the surging Diamondbacks and Padres sitting just 3.5 and 4.5 games back respectively of L.A. in the race of the NL West, the Dodgers figure to continue leaning on Ohtani to lead their offense to their 11th NL West title in the past 12 years.
More from the Dodgers…
- While Ohtani sets his sights on returning to the mound in 2025, his fellow nine-figure free agent addition from this past offseason is hoping to pitch in the majors much sooner than that. Right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto is making significant progress toward a return to action after being sidelined by a rotator cuff strain back in June. According to MLB.com’s Injury Tracker, Yamamoto threw a two-inning simulated game earlier this week and is scheduled to throw his next bullpen session on Monday. Should that session go well, manager Dave Roberts indicated to reporters yesterday that Yamamoto would be in line to begin a rehab assignment this coming Wednesday. The 25-year-old righty was as-advertised in 14 starts prior to the injury this year with a 2.92 ERA and 2.68 FIP with an excellent 27.9% strikeout rate in 74 innings of work to this point in his big league career. [UPDATE: Roberts said on Sunday that Yamamoto will indeed start his rehab assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday.]
- The future is significantly murkier regarding the Dodgers’ third major offseason addition, however, as manager Dave Roberts today described the rehab plan for right-hander Tyler Glasnow as a “slow process” to reporters (including Ardaya). The righty was placed on the 15-day injured list just last week due to elbow tendinitis and while Roberts relayed that he has already resumed playing catch from 60 feet, he did not provide a timeline for the hard-throwing ace’s return to action beyond saying that Glasnow’s regular season is not in jeopardy as things stand. With the Dodgers extremely well-positioned for a postseason berth headed into the regular season’s final month, it’s not necessarily a shock that the club would be extremely careful with the 31-year-old in hopes of ensuring his healthy return for the playoffs this October.
Dodgers Place Tyler Glasnow On Injured List
The Dodgers placed Tyler Glasnow on the 15-day injured list shortly before tonight’s matchup with the Cardinals. It’s the second IL stint of the season for the lanky right-hander, who is dealing with elbow tendinitis. Rookie southpaw Justin Wrobleski was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City and will make his fifth big league start this evening.
While there had not been any indication that Glasnow was battling injury, the Dodgers announced yesterday that they were moving his scheduled start back from tonight to Saturday. As Fabian Ardaya of the Athletic observes (on X), it seems likely the Dodgers will turn to Bobby Miller to take the ball tomorrow instead. Miller has been on optional assignment since shorty before the All-Star Break but is traveling with the MLB club on the taxi squad. Miller has continued to struggle over three Triple-A starts since being demoted. He hasn’t pithed in a week, though, so he’ll likely be recalled.
There’s nothing to suggest that Glasnow is in for an extended absence. Losing him for at least two weeks is nevertheless another blow to a rotation that has gotten hit hard by injury. The Dodgers are without Yoshinobu Yamamoto because of a rotator cuff strain and have been without Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May and Emmet Sheehan all season. Each of Gonsolin, May and Sheehan have undergone significant arm surgeries. Top prospect River Ryan is joining them in that regard. He’s headed for Tommy John surgery and might be out until 2026.
Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler recently returned from extended injury absences. Miller lost a couple months to a shoulder problem and has looked like a shell of his rookie self since returning. The Dodgers acquired Jack Flaherty in one of the biggest deadline deals, though he’s not without health questions himself. Rookie righty Gavin Stone has stepped up as a surprisingly crucial rotation piece, taking the ball 22 times and turning in a 3.63 ERA through 121 1/3 innings.
Wrobleski’s appearance tonight is expected to be a spot start. That’d leave L.A. with a rotation of Flaherty, Stone, Kershaw, Buehler and Miller for the next few weeks. They’ll obviously hope for Glasnow to return in short order. Their offseason trade acquisition has been fantastic when healthy, working to a 3.49 ERA while striking out more than 32% of batters faced over 22 starts. This season’s 134 innings is already his career high in any major or minor league season.
Durability has long been the biggest question with Glasnow, who lost most of the 2022 season to Tommy John surgery. His IL placement early this year was a lot less concerning. Glasnow was out for a minimal 15-day stint around the All-Star Break because of lower back inflammation — an injury break that also served as a check on his escalating workload.
The Dodgers felt relatively comfortable with their place in the division at that time. Hot streaks by the Padres and Diamondbacks have closed the gap, cutting L.A.’s lead in the NL West to two games. The Dodgers remain a near lock to make the postseason, but they’re not cruising to the division title the way that most had expected.
Getting healthier by October still remains the team’s biggest priority. Their rotation was decimated by injury by the time the playoffs rolled around a year ago. They went into the postseason relying on Miller and a clearly diminished version of Kershaw who was pitching through a shoulder injury that required surgery. The Diamondbacks swept them out of the Division Series on their path to the NL pennant.
The Dodgers aren’t at last year’s panic level right now. Flaherty has pitched like a potential Game 1 starter this year. Glasnow may be back well in advance of the postseason. Yamamoto is hoping for a return late in the regular season; he threw a 17-pitch simulated game this afternoon as he starts to rebuild his arm strength (relayed on X by Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times). There’s still a path for the Dodgers running a playoff rotation comprising Glasnow, Yamamoto, Flaherty and one of Stone or Kershaw.
Los Angeles will get some help on the pitching staff tomorrow, albeit in the bullpen. DiGiovanna tweets that the team will reinstate Ryan Brasier from the 60-day injured list. The righty has been out since late April on account of a significant calf strain. L.A. already has an opening on the 40-man roster after designating Amed Rosario for assignment earlier in the week.
Dodgers To Reinstate Clayton Kershaw, Tyler Glasnow
The Dodgers have been scrambling to fill their rotation lately but will get a couple of big reinforcements back in the coming days. Manager Dave Roberts tells reporters that right-hander Tyler Glasnow and left-hander Clayton Kershaw will each come off the injured list to start on Wednesday and Thursday respectively. Kershaw is on the 60-day IL and will need a 40-man roster spot to be opened prior to taking the ball. Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times was among those to relay the news on X.
It’s a pretty big moment for Kershaw, who is coming back from the most significant absence of his career. The southpaw went under the knife in November to repair the gleno-humeral ligaments and capsule of his left shoulder. Though surgeries for pitchers have become quite commonplace in today’s baseball landscape, this was actually the first one for the veteran.
Kershaw was a workhorse earlier in his career but has had some health issues in recent seasons. From 2010 to 2015, he logged at least 198 innings for six straight years but hasn’t hit that number since. Recent years have seen him miss time here and there, often due to back issues, but the shoulder was the big concern in 2023. He somehow managed to toss 131 2/3 innings with a 2.55 earned run average despite his fastball velocity declining throughout the season but then was torched in his lone playoff start, only recording one out against the Diamondbacks while being charged with six earned runs.
The shoulder issue eventually require the aforementioned surgery in November and then he re-signed with the Dodgers in February. The deal is a two-year pact with the second season being a player option. Kershaw has a base salary of just $5MM in both years of the deal but with the ability to earn far more if he’s healthy. He gets an extra $1MM for getting to six starts, $1.5MM each for his seventh, eighth and ninth starts and then $2MM after his tenth. The Dodgers can’t get around this by using an opener, as a relief outing wherein Kershaw records at least nine outs also counts. At this point in the calendar, it’s still possible for Kershaw to unlock all of those bonuses and there are similar escalators for his 2025 option.
He began a rehab assignment by pitching three innings at the Single-A level on June 19. He was then shut down due to some shoulder soreness but Roberts downplayed the significance and Kershaw restarted his rehab assignment again more recently. He tossed three innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City last Saturday and then four innings on Friday, getting up to 67 pitches in the most recent outing. He’s now set to resume a big league career that already includes 2,712 2/3 innings with a 2.48 ERA.
Glasnow’s absence was far more mild, as he landed on the IL prior to the break due to some low back tightness, but the dual returns are significant for the Dodgers as they have had plenty of rotation challenges. Dustin May and Emmet Sheehan are each done for the year, with Tony Gonsolin likely to be in that camp as well. Yoshinobu Yamamoto has a rotator cuff strain that landed him on the 60-day IL, meaning he can’t return before mid-August. Bobby Miller struggled enough to get optioned down to the minors while Walker Buehler was ineffective before landing on the IL with a hip issue.
Amid all of those issues, the Dodgers have been using a rotation of veteran James Paxton, rookies Gavin Stone, Justin Wrobleski and Landon Knack, as well as occasional bullpen games. Getting Glasnow and Kershaw into that mix obviously helps, and the club will be promoting prospect River Ryan soon as well.
Though that group is about to be much stronger than it was heading into the All-Star break, the Dodgers are still expected to pursue rotation upgrades prior to the July 30 deadline. They have been connected to Garrett Crochet of the White Sox for weeks now and Bob Nightengale of USA Today mentions the fit again this morning, also adding that the club has interest in Tarik Skubal of the Tigers.
Though the Dodgers’ interest in Crochet has been known for a while, Nightengale adds that the Dodgers have discussed a blockbuster deal that would see them also acquire outfielder Luis Robert Jr. and maybe even reliever Michael Kopech as well. That’s not necessarily a big surprise, as teams usually discuss all kinds of various trade scenarios, with many of them not coming close to fruition.
But that does align with recent comments from president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, who suggested the Dodgers would be more focused on impact additions as opposed to marginal upgrades. The club has some holes but is understandably shooting for the stars at this point. They have made the playoffs in 11 straight years now and spent wildly in the offseason, adding Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani and others. Making the postseason for a 12th straight year won’t really count as an accomplishment for the club or its fans, so aiming high at the deadline and trying for a World Series seems to be the play.
Crochet would obviously fit the bill since he’s been one of the best pitchers in the league this year with a 3.02 ERA and 35.2% strikeout rate through 20 starts. There are some concerns about his workload since he’s already thrown more innings this year than in his entire professional career prior to this campaign, but he should be able to provide an impact even if moved to some kind of relief role down the stretch.
Robert also has some durability concerns as he’s only tallied 100 games in a season once, but that one occurrence was quite impressive. He got into 145 contests for the Sox last year and hit 38 home runs, stole 20 bases and provided quality defense in center field. Injuries have been a problem before and have cropped up again this year, as he missed two months due to a right hip flexor strain. But he’s been great in his limited time, with 11 homers and 11 steals in just 45 games. His 32.6% strikeout rate is a career high but his 10.2% walk rate is almost twice his career pace.
He could fit into a Dodger outfield that has seen Mookie Betts move to the infield and then head to the injured list. Teoscar Hernández is having a good year but it’s flimsy apart from that. Andy Pages and Miguel Vargas are doing well overall but most of their damage has come against lefties. Ideally, they would be platooned with Jason Heyward, but Heyward is also on the IL. James Outman is hitting just .153/.250/.258 on the year and was optioned to the minors for a while, only getting recalled when Heyward went on the shelf. Utility players Chris Taylor, Enrique Hernández and Cavan Biggio have also struggled.
In addition to their talents, both players would be incredibly attractive due to their financial situations. Crochet is in his first arbitration season but his injury absences have limited him to a salary of $800K this year. He has two arb seasons left after this one and will be in line for a decent raises, but from a very modest base. Robert is making $12.5MM this year, far more than Crochet but still a bargain for a player of his talents. He’ll then make $15MM next year with a pair of $20MM club options after that.
Each player has significant trade value in a vacuum but it would take a massive blockbuster haul for the Dodgers to get both. Their farm system is considered strong but whether a deal can come together or not will depend on what kind of price the Sox are asking for and what other teams are offering. But at 27-73 and with a farm system that isn’t especially well regarded, it makes sense the Sox are considering trading almost anyone and it seems they are doing just that.
Kopech can’t match either Crochet or Robert in terms of huge appeal, but he would have some value in his own right. After some inconsistent results as a starter, the Sox have been using him as their closer this year with some interesting but mixed results. His 5.05 ERA isn’t going to wow anyone and his 12.7% walk rate is concerning, but he has punched out 30.9% of batters faced. He’s only making $3MM this year and can be retained via arbitration for another season after this.
As for Skubal, it’s understandable why the Dodgers or any other club would be interested. He is a Cy Young candidate this year with a 2.41 ERA, 30.8% strikeout rate, 4.6% walk rate and 47.4% ground ball rate. He’s making a modest $2.65MM and has two seasons of club control beyond this one.
But that also makes him plenty appealing to the Tigers and it’s fair to wonder how available he is. The club once seemed buried in the standings but have been hot lately, winning 11 of their last 14 and climbing to within five games of a playoff spot. Getting Skubal away from Detroit was probably going to take a haul even when they were in seller position but it’s probably become more difficult in recent weeks.