MILWAUKEE — Tyler Glasnow returned to the Dodgers’ starting rotation on Wednesday. Now the Dodgers are going to ask him to do something that has largely eluded him throughout his career.
“I know no one is more frustrated than Tyler is,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “You love the guy. You love the teammate. Certainly the talent is undeniable. 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.”
Glasnow passed his career-high in innings pitched for a season last June. But in the calendar year before Wednesday, he was on the mound for the Dodgers just nine times for a total of 43 innings. His 2024 season ended in August with elbow pain and his 2025 season lasted just 18 innings in April before he went on the injured list with shoulder discomfort.
“The ability, the production when he’s healthy, when he’s right, he’s as good as there is in the game,” Roberts said. “We wouldn’t have locked him up (to a multi-year contract) if we didn’t feel that way, right? It’s in there. It’s been in there. That’s what we need to get back to consistently.”
Glasnow came into spring training this year having made some changes in his mechanics, hoping to avoid the elbow injuries that have pock-marked his career. Those changes seemed to preoccupy him even when he was on the mound in April. Roberts would like to see Glasnow focus less on trying to have the perfect delivery and more on letting his talent take over.
“There’s always fine-tuning. But when you’re out there competing it’s hard to be in search mode,” Roberts said. “I feel he’s healthy. I know he’s healthy. The pitching guys feel good with where his delivery is at. So now it’s just go out there and keep that rhythm and execute pitches and compete.”
After allowing just one unearned run on two hits and three walks in five innings in his return Wednesday, Glasnow sounded like a pitcher less obsessed with his mechanics.
“Just kind of going out and pitching, just toeing the mound and kind of getting into that rhythm and keeping the routine,” he said of his focus now. “Just going out, be athletic and trust the trainers, strength room, stay healthy and just keep pitching.
“I’m just trying to go out there and get the work done throughout the week, and then just go out and compete.”
KOPECH SURGERY
Glasnow was activated from the 60-day IL. Right-hander Michael Kopech replaced him there after having surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.
Kopech didn’t make his season debut until June 8 after shoulder and forearm issues in the spring. He won’t be eligible again until August 27 after Wednesday’s move but is expected to pitch again this season.
OHTANI DAY
Shohei Ohtani threw a 26-pitch bullpen session before Wednesday’s game and will make his next start as a pitcher on Saturday in San Francisco.
Right-hander Emmet Sheehan will follow Ohtani and pitch ‘bulk’ innings.
So far, Ohtani has pitched six innings in his four starts, allowing one run on four hits and a walk while striking out six. He hasn’t pitched more than two innings at a time and threw a season-high 31 pitches in his most recent outing against the Houston Astros.
REHAB TIME
Blake Treinen (forearm) and Blake Snell (shoulder) are ready to start minor-league injury-rehabilitation assignments.
Treinen was scheduled to pitch an inning for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday with Snell starting his rehab with Class-A Rancho Cucamonga on Thursday.
Because of the All-Star break next week, both are expected to move their rehabs to the Dodgers’ training complex in Arizona.
DIAZ DOWN
Alexis Diaz’s return to the major leagues lasted one day and included no pitching. Promoted from OKC on Tuesday, Diaz was demoted on Wednesday to make room for Glasnow on the active roster.
The former All-Star closer was acquired from the Cincinnati Reds in late May with the Dodgers hoping to get him back to some semblance of that form after a two-year slide. He spent some time at the Dodgers’ training complex in Arizona then joined OKC where he allowed five runs on two hits, seven walks and two hit batters in 4⅔ innings over six outings.
“There’s been some good, some not so good,” Roberts said of the reports on Diaz. “Just trying to be consistent with the delivery. I think the arm still works. The stuff is still good. But the consistency of strike throwing is what we haven’t seen yet from Alexis.”
ALSO
Utility man Tommy Edman (toe) returned to the Dodgers’ lineup on Wednesday, but Roberts said outfielder Teoscar Hernandez is “not there yet.” Hernandez suffered a contusion when he fouled a ball off his foot during Saturday’s game.
“I fully expect him to be in there on Friday after the off day,” Roberts said. …
Minor-league outfielder Steward Berroa was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for cash considerations. Berroa was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in May and was designated for assignment this week to clear a 40-man roster spot for right-hander Julian Fernandez.
UP NEXT
The Dodgers are off Thursday.
Dodgers (RHP Dustin May, 5-5, 4.52 ERA) at Giants (RHP Logan Webb, 8-6, 2.62 ERA), Friday, 7:15 p.m., SportsNet LA, MLB Network (out of market only), 570 AM