Dave Roberts Still Confident in Dodgers Starting Rotation Despite Plethora of Injuries
The Los Angeles Dodgers sustained a brutal blow to the starting rotation Saturday, with manager Dave Roberts announcing that starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow is ‘highly unlikely’ to return this season. Glasnow had been on the injured list since Aug. 16 with elbow tendinitis, but until recently, there was belief that Glasnow would return this season.
That optimism began to dissolve, particularly after Glasnow did not complete the simulated game on Friday that would have been his first time facing live hitters. Due to discomfort, Glasnow did not face live hitters. The following day, Roberts ruled his return ‘highly unlikely.’
Glasnow is just one of the many injuries to the starting rotation this season. Clayton Kershaw, Tony Gonsolin, Gavin Stone, River Ryan, and Dustin May have all missed significant time, with Kershaw and Stone recently hitting the IL.
Roberts acknowledged that the loss of Glasnow is a ‘big blow’ for the team, but he still remains confident in his team heading into the postseason.
“I’m still confident,” Roberts said, via Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times. “I don’t think there’s one way to win a championship. I think you can look back at the teams recently and how their staffs came together and who stepped up for each team’s staff. So we’re going to have the guys we have, and I feel confident in whoever we run out there.”
There has been limited good news for the Dodgers’ rotation over the course of the season, but the team did get Yoshinobu Yamamoto back from the IL this week after he spent months away from the team. Yamamoto gave up zero earned runs and struck out eight over four innings during his return Tuesday. Additionally, Stone has begun a throwing program, giving the Dodgers some hope he can come back.
At this moment in time though, the Dodgers have little to feel absolutely confident in. Walker Buehler and Bobby Miller each gave up five earned runs or more in their most recent starts, and Landon Knack is coming off the worst start of his career. Outside of Yamamoto and Jack Flaherty, the Dodgers have little to feel sure about at the moment.
Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
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