The Los Angeles Dodgers have not gotten a start from Tyler Glasnow in months, but that is slowly changing.
Glasnow went down on the injured list with back spasms, something that was triggered back in May after one inning of work against the Houston Astros.
Since then, he was shut down for a bit, resumed throwing, and then he was shut down once again.
He has experienced a lot of stop-and-start, but over the last two weeks he has finally been cleared to resume throwing and has gotten work in.
On Friday, before the Dodgers started their series against the Mets, Glasnow faced hitters in a live setting, his first time since being on the shelf.
“Glas[now] is throwing a live, he’s throwing to hitters today, I think it’s today. So he’s trending,” Roberts said.
While he is still a lengthy rehabilitation assignment away from coming back, all signs point to Glasnow returning at some point in the regular season, as long as his back responds well.
September looks more likely than October, as the Dodgers will be careful with their tall righty, but this is good news ahead of the trade deadline, when LA was facing some added pressure to trade for a pitcher due to Snell and Glasnow missing months of action.
How Tyler Glasnow’s injury recovery has gone thus far
Initially, Roberts and the Dodgers expected Glasnow’s back issue to be minor, but it has not responded well whenever he has tried to really push himself.
The Dodgers will be very cautious to avoid another shutdown, as it could risk his ability to pitch again this season.
“I think there’s been times where he’s played catch, thrown ‘pens and then feels good until he doesn’t,” Roberts said two weeks ago when Glasnow started his recent throwing sessions.
“The back is a little tricky. Hopefully, he comes in feeling good today, and then when he keeps throwing his ‘pens, we keep moving the needle. But we’re trying to get a good base so we don’t have a setback, because, obviously, now in the middle of the season, setbacks are going to be hard to overcome.”
This next week of work for Glasnow will be pivotal and could change the direction that the franchise takes at the deadline.
