Latest news with #Glasnow
Los Angeles Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Dodgers are shut out by Brewers, but Tyler Glasnow shows signs of growth
Tyler Glasnow's problems have been the same for years. Spending too much time caught up in his own head, and not enough time actually pitching on the field. Ever since the Dodgers acquired the tall, lanky and Southern California-raised right-hander, those two issues have plagued the $136.5 million acquisition in ways that have frustrated him, the team and its fan base. Glasnow made 22 starts last year (a career-high in his injury-plagued career) before a nagging elbow problem ended his season early. This term, he managed only five starts before his shoulder started barking, landing him on the injured list for another extended stint. Through it all, Glasnow has talked repeatedly about the need to be more 'external' on the mound — focused more on execution and compete-level than the aches and pains in his body and imperfections in his delivery. Yet, with each new setback, the veteran pitcher was left scrambling for answers, constantly tinkering with his mechanics and toiling with his mindset in hopes of striking an equilibrium between both. Which is why, as Glasnow neared his latest return to action, he tried to simplify things. For real, this time. No more worrying about spine angle and release point. No more mid-game thoughts about the many moving parts in his throwing sequence. 'I don't even know,' when asked last week how he changed his mechanics during his most recent absence, the kind of physical ignorance that might actually be a good thing in the 31-year-old's case. 'I'm just going out and being athletic and not trying to look at it. And if there's something I need to fix, or something the coaches see, then I'll worry about it. But I'm just going out … [and] getting in that rhythm. Getting back into a starting routine.' Two starts in, that new routine looks promising. After pitching five solid innings of one-run ball in Milwaukee last week, Glasnow started the second half of the season with another step forward Friday, spinning a six-inning, one-run gem in the Dodgers' 2-0 loss to the Brewers at Dodger Stadium. As the Dodgers came out of the All-Star break, few players seemed as pivotal to their long-term success as Glasnow. The club is counting on him and fellow nine-figure free-agent signing Blake Snell (who, like Glasnow, missed almost all of the first half with a shoulder injury but could be back in action by the end of the month) to bolster a rotation that has missed them dearly. To join Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and in some capacity Shohei Ohtani, at the forefront of a pitching staff seeking significant improvement as it tries to repeat as World Series champions. The Dodgers — who would like not to have to add a starting pitcher at the trade deadline, and might have a hard time finding an impact addition like they did in Jack Flaherty last summer even if they try — did have similar hopes for Glasnow last season. Even when he first went down with his elbow injury in mid-August, the initial expectation was that he'd be back well in time for the playoff push. Instead, Glasnow's arm never ceased to bother him. When he tried ramping up for a live batting practice session in mid-September, he effectively pulled the plug on his season when his arm still didn't feel right. Ever since, Glasnow has lived in a world of frustration, spending his winter trying to craft a healthier delivery only to run into more problems within the first month of this season. 'Certainly the talent is undeniable,' manager Dave Roberts said last week, ahead of Glasnow's return. 'But I think for me, for us, you want the dependability. That's something that I'm looking for from Tyler from here on out. To know what you're going to get when he takes that ball every fifth or sixth day.' On Friday, Glasnow produced a template worth following. Flashing increased fastball velocity for the second-straight outing — routinely hitting 98-99 mph on the gun — Glasnow filled up the strike zone, going after hitters with his premium four-seamer and increasing reliance on a late-breaking sinker. His big-bending curveball played perfectly off them, with Glasnow pulling the string for awkward swings and soft contact. He retired the first five batters he faced, and didn't let a ball out of the infield until Brice Turang's two-out single in the third. He was late getting to the mound at the start of the fourth, resulting in an automatic ball to the leadoff batter, but remained unfazed, retiring the side in order. Glasnow did wobble in the fifth. Suddenly struggling to locate the ball, he walked leadoff hitter Isaac Collins on five pitches before giving up an RBI double to Caleb Durbin in a 2-and-0 count, when he left a sinker over the heart of the plate. But then he settled back down, escaped the inning without further damage, and worked around a high-hopping one-out single from Jackson Chourio in the sixth with strikeouts of William Contreras and Christian Yelich. The outing marked Glasnow's first time completing six innings since April 13 against the Chicago Cubs, and was his first such outing allowing only one earned run since last June. Unfortunately for Glasnow, he was still the second-best pitcher on the bump Friday. Opposite him, young Brewers right-hander Quinn Priester dominated the Dodgers over six scoreless innings, recording the second-most strikeouts of his career by fanning 10. Struggling veteran Kirby Yates didn't help in relief of Glasnow, either, giving up a home run to Durbin in the seventh that sent the Dodgers to a disappointing defeat coming out of the break. Still, for a team with a comfortable division lead and the shortest World Series odds of any club in the majors at the moment, getting good starting pitching remains the most pressing big-picture concern for the Dodgers at the moment. At the end of last year, and for much of the first half this year, Glasnow was unable to help in that department. Now, he might finally be showing flashes he can. '[I want to] just go out and be athletic,' Glasnow said last week. 'Just go out and compete.'
Los Angeles Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Four major questions the Dodgers face in the second half of the season
They have the most wins in the National League. They have an almost 95% chance of winning their division, according to Fangraphs' computer models. And, in the eyes of Vegas bookmakers, are still the overwhelming favorites to repeat as World Series champions. Yet, after an up-and-down opening half that saw the Dodgers fall short of their all-time (and, admittedly, somewhat unrealistic) expectations, the team kicks off the second half of its season on Friday night facing plenty of problems, and grappling with important unknowns, as it embarks on the second half of the schedule. 'Good first half,' manager Dave Roberts said before the All-Star break. 'But yeah, we should want to get better.' As the second half gets underway, here are four big questions in the Dodgers' quest to improve down the stretch and try to defend their 2024 title. It's an age-old question when it comes to the Dodgers, cast upon a new-look roster battling familiar injury-related headaches. In a best-case scenario, the Dodgers could end the season with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani (in some capacity) headlining their rotation. In the bullpen, they could have Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech and Brusdar Graterol bolstering more heavily-used arms like Tanner Scott, Alex Vesia and Kirby Yates — plus wild card options in Ben Casparius, Emmet Sheehan and Jack Dreyer to serve in more versatile roles on the mound. But best-case pitching scenarios, of course, have often been unrealized fantasies with the franchise in recent years. Thus, down the stretch this season, the Dodgers' top priority (after winning the division and securing a first-round bye) will be keeping their arms as healthy as possible. That will be most important with Glasnow (who just returned from a shoulder injury) and Snell (who should be back from his own shoulder problem in the next couple of weeks). To this point, the Dodgers have signaled a reluctance to urgently pursue a starter at the trade deadline. And even if they did, the lack of available front-line options means it'd be difficult to insure against either (or, in a nightmare world) both going down again. The Dodgers have been interested in adding to the bullpen, and might set their sights on a legitimate closer given Scott's season-long struggles. But still, much of their depth will depend on Treinen (who is also nearing a return from a forearm injury), Kopech (who went on the 60-day IL after a knee surgery, but is still expected back this season) and Graterol (who is also still expected to return after missing the first half recovering from offseason shoulder surgery). The Dodgers also have their fingers crossed on Roki Sasaki (hoping he can return in late August from his own shoulder issue) and haven't yet ruled out Tony Gonsolin (though he has remained shut down since suffering an elbow injury). But for now, their primary hope is to keep Glasnow and Snell upright, and replenish an overworked bullpen with late-season reinforcements. After pitching three innings for the first time this season in his final outing before the All-Star break, Ohtani appears to be getting closer to full-length starts in his return to pitching. But the question remains, how long (if ever) it will take him and the Dodgers to get there. After five abbreviated appearances over the last month-plus, it's clear Ohtani's stuff on the mound hasn't been diminished by a second career Tommy John surgery. He is routinely hitting 100 mph. He has 10 strikeouts in nine total innings. He has given up just one run overall. However, Ohtani's bat has cooled since resuming his two-way role. And the full extent of the physical toll being imposed on the 31-year-old superstar are still not yet entirely clear, prompting the Dodgers to be very deliberate in slowly, methodically increasing his workload. It's difficult to imagine, barring any unforeseen setbacks, Ohtani not being part of the pitching plan in October given how electric he has looked thus far. But will it be as a glorified three- or four-inning opener? Or in a traditional starting role in which he is asked to work into the sixth or the seventh? That could depend on the state of the rest of the Dodgers' staff, how Ohtani performs at the plate over the season's second half, and how his body holds up to a challenge he has never before attempted with a team competing for a playoff spot. The Dodgers might have Ohtani and a better supporting cast now. But, as they learned in 2022 and 2023, life can be difficult when Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts aren't hitting; especially in the heat of a playoff environment. And for all their other firepower this season, the Dodgers still need the two ex-MVPs to provide a spark. For as good as Betts has been defensively this year — still ranking top-10 among MLB shortstops in fielding percentage, outs above average and defensive runs saved — he was 122nd out of 155 qualified hitters in OPS during the first half, with a .696 mark that is more than 100 points worse than his previous career low. Freeman, meanwhile, went from a National League-leading .374 batting average at the end of May to a .203 mark over June and July, 163rd best out of 184 qualified hitters in that time. That kind of production will put a drag even on a Dodgers offense with so many other star-level players. If the team is going to be anywhere near its potential offensively, it will need both sluggers to quickly pick things up. Otherwise, their margin for error at the plate come October could be worryingly slim. There are myriad questions for the rest of the Dodgers' lineup, too, where first-half performances ranged from unexpectedly spectacular to unimaginably difficult. The Dodgers leaned heavily on Will Smith and his NL-best .323 batting average to provide consistent production. Can he replicate that in the second half of the season? Or will he fall victim to the late-summer slides that have plagued him throughout his career? For large stretches of the opening half, Andy Pages looked like an All-Star and one of the most trustworthy run-producers in the middle of the order (an important role for a Dodgers team that always generates ample opportunities, but can struggle to capitalize upon them). But he also entered the All-Star break in a two-week slump. If he can revert back to being a near .300 hitter, it could significantly help lengthen a sometimes top-heavy lineup. Conversely, Teoscar Hernández has looked out of sync ever since returning from a groin injury in May, batting just .209 since then. As one of the most clutch performers during last year's World Series run, there are real questions about whether he can regain enough health and consistency to replicate such heroics this fall. Tommy Edman, meanwhile, has been valuable defensively, and was a surprise early-season slugger with eight home runs in March and April. Since then, though, he has posted below-league-average numbers, and entered the break in a two-for-32 rut. One X-factor could be Hyeseong Kim, who turned heads in limited early-season playing time (.339 average, .842 OPS and 11-for-11 on steals in 48 games) and figures to get more everyday opportunities in Max Muncy's absence in the coming weeks. Muncy, himself, poses another big unknown. Roberts said the early reports on his recovery from a bone bruise in his knee have been encouraging. But, the Dodgers have not looked the same since losing him from the lineup. And though he is expected to return, just how limiting the lingering effects of his injury will be could have important implications on the state of the Dodgers' offense.
Canada Standard
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Canada Standard
Dodgers activate RHP Tyler Glasnow, move RHP Michael Kopech to 60-day
(Photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images) The Los Angeles Dodgers activated right-handed starter Tyler Glasnow from the 60-day injured list, while moving right-hander reliever Michael Kopeck to the 60-day IL with right knee inflammation. In order to get Glasnow on the active roster to face the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday afternoon, the club optioned right-hander Alexis Diaz to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Glasnow, 31, last appeared in a major league game on April 27 and has been on the mend ever since with shoulder inflammation. He was 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in five starts before his injury. Over 10 seasons with three clubs, including six with the Tampa Bay Rays, Glasnow is 40-33 with a 3.83 ERA over 154 appearances (115 starts). Kopech, 29, was acquired from the Chicago White Sox last season and was a key member of the bullpen in the Dodgers' run to a World Series title last season. He started the season on the IL with elbow and shoulder injuries before not allowing a run in eight appearances this season. Kopech received a pain-killing injection to his knee last week after going on the IL July 1 and will not be eligible to return until the end of August. Diaz, 28, was acquired by Los Angeles in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds on May 29 but has not made an appearance with his new club. He was 18-14 with 75 saves and a 3.21 ERA in four seasons with the Reds, including an All-Star Game appearance in 2023. In an additional move, the Dodgers traded outfielder Steward Berroa to the Brewers for cash considerations. Berroa, who had 28 games of major league experience with the Toronto Blue Jays last season, was designated for assignment last week. --Field Level Media
Canada News.Net
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Canada News.Net
Dodgers activate RHP Tyler Glasnow, move RHP Michael Kopech to 60-day
(Photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images) The Los Angeles Dodgers activated right-handed starter Tyler Glasnow from the 60-day injured list, while moving right-hander reliever Michael Kopeck to the 60-day IL with right knee inflammation. In order to get Glasnow on the active roster to face the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday afternoon, the club optioned right-hander Alexis Diaz to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Glasnow, 31, last appeared in a major league game on April 27 and has been on the mend ever since with shoulder inflammation. He was 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in five starts before his injury. Over 10 seasons with three clubs, including six with the Tampa Bay Rays, Glasnow is 40-33 with a 3.83 ERA over 154 appearances (115 starts). Kopech, 29, was acquired from the Chicago White Sox last season and was a key member of the bullpen in the Dodgers' run to a World Series title last season. He started the season on the IL with elbow and shoulder injuries before not allowing a run in eight appearances this season. Kopech received a pain-killing injection to his knee last week after going on the IL July 1 and will not be eligible to return until the end of August. Diaz, 28, was acquired by Los Angeles in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds on May 29 but has not made an appearance with his new club. He was 18-14 with 75 saves and a 3.21 ERA in four seasons with the Reds, including an All-Star Game appearance in 2023. In an additional move, the Dodgers traded outfielder Steward Berroa to the Brewers for cash considerations. Berroa, who had 28 games of major league experience with the Toronto Blue Jays last season, was designated for assignment last week.
Fox Sports
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Glasnow's solid return should steady Dodgers' rotation. Now they just need to start hitting again
Associated Press MILWAUKEE (AP) — Tyler Glasnow returned in fine form to steady the Los Angeles Dodgers' injury-riddled pitching staff, but the reigning World Series champions' star-studded lineup suddenly could use a lift as well. Glasnow came off the injured list Wednesday and allowed just one unearned run over five innings Wednesday while pitching for the Dodgers for the first time since April 27. His return should fortify a pitching staff that still has two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, Michael Kopech, Brusdal Graterol and Blake Treinen out due to injuries. 'I'm glad I could go out and feel healthy and feel strong,' said Glasnow, who had been dealing with shoulder inflammation. 'I'm just ready to go again after the break.' But the Dodgers still fell 3-2 to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday as their hitting struggles continued. The Dodgers have dropped six straight games for the first time since April 2019, and they've scored a total of 10 runs during that skid. 'Scoring one or two runs is not going to cut it,' said Miguel Rojas, who scored both of the Dodgers' runs Wednesday. 'We have to do better.' Injuries have played a role in the Dodgers' recent shortcomings. Utilityman Kike Hernandez and infielder Max Muncy are on the injured list, while second baseman Tommy Edman and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez fouled balls off their feet Saturday. Edman returned to the starting lineup Wednesday after missing three games, while Hernández walked as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning. But the Dodgers still have MVPs Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman at the top of the lineup. They just haven't been able to produce any big innings while getting swept by the Houston Astros and Brewers. The Dodgers never had been swept by the Brewers in Milwaukee before this week. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he liked the way his team competed by drawing seven walks Wednesday. But the Dodgers left 11 men on base and went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position. They still led 2-1 before the Brewers tied the game in the ninth inning and won it in the 10th. 'It's one of those things that we've got to find a way to weather it,' Roberts said. 'You don't want guys trying to press to just get it all back with one swing. I think the messaging is just go out there and keep taking the at bats we took today.' The Dodgers can afford this type of slump. This losing streak followed a 15-3 stretch that game the Dodgers a large cushion in the NL West. They remain five games ahead of the San Francisco Giants, who host the Dodgers in a three-game series starting Friday. The Dodgers will face All-Star right-hander Logan Webb in the opener. They don't want to let the Giants creep any closer before the All-Star break. 'We know what we're looking for,' Rojas said. 'We're looking to win another championship. Playing this kind of baseball is not going to get us there.' The Dodgers made room for Glasnow on the roster by sending reliever Alexis Diaz back to the minors, one day after calling him up. In another move Wednesday, the Dodgers sent minor league outfielder Steward Berroa to the Brewers for cash. The Brewers optioned Berroa to Triple-A Nashville and placed him on that team's injured list with right shoulder bursitis. The Brewers also designated right-handed pitcher Elvin Rodríguez for assignment. ___ AP MLB: recommended Item 1 of 2
