It still could be quite a while before the Los Angeles Dodgers see any help for their starting rotation. The team’s hopes for getting healthy reinforcements back hit significant snags this week, as both Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell faced setbacks in their respective recovery timelines. What was once optimism about imminent returns has changed into growing concerns about when either pitcher will be ready to contribute.
Glasnow’s Troubling Rehab Performance
Glasnow’s second rehab start on Friday night for Triple-A Oklahoma City against Sacramento was nothing short of a disaster. The right-hander managed just 2-1/3 innings while allowing five runs on seven hits, needing 66 pitches to record seven outs. He was supposed to throw three innings but couldn’t get there, using up most of his leash in the first frame when he threw 40 pitches and gave up four runs.
Over his two rehab appearances, Glasnow now has a 10.38 ERA — hardly the kind of results that inspire confidence from the Los Angeles coaching staff and management crew. While his average fastball velocity was over 96 mph and he recorded nine punchouts, his command was severely lacking as only 37 of his 66 pitches were strikes.
The struggles appear to stem from Glasnow’s continued focus on mechanical changes he made during the offseason. Roberts emphasized the need for a mental shift: “He’s a very cerebral guy, mechanical, and as he’s gone through this rehab, he’s still thinking more internal, which is understandable. But as he starts to get out on rehab, get closer to competition, my encouragement is to get more external. You’re going to start trying to get hitters out rather than [focus on] where your delivery is at.”
These recent struggles could mean that Glasnow will need at least one or more rehab starts before returning to the majors.
Snell’s Stalled Progress
Snell’s recovery appears even more troubling. The two-time Cy Young Award winner, who has been out since April 6 with shoulder inflammation, still isn’t close to facing live hitters according to the latest update from Roberts.
“I would say probably not,” Roberts said when asked if Snell is close to facing live hitters. “We got to do another ‘pen and we’ll see where we go. But I would just say overall, my idea of close is probably not, which could be different from yours.”
The slow progress is particularly frustrating given that Snell was supposed to anchor the rotation with his $182 million contract. He managed just two starts at the beginning of the season, and his extended absence has left a massive hole in the rotation.
Snell has acknowledged pushing too hard for Opening Day. “I probably should have stopped throwing before Opening Day, but I just wanted to pitch so bad,” Snell said back in May. “It’s tough, we want to compete. You want to play and, you know, new to being a Dodger, I just want to show everyone how great I am and what I can be. Got a little too far ahead of myself.”
Rotation Reality Check
With both returns now pushed back indefinitely, the Dodgers face a harsh reality about their rotation depth. Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May and Yoshinobu Yamamoto represent the only reliable long men currently available, with Shohei Ohtani slowly building his pitch count.
The lack of viable alternatives at Triple-A Oklahoma City makes the situation even more precarious. Bobby Miller, Landon Knack and Justin Wrobleski are all posting ERAs north of 5.00 with the Comets, while Miller remains on the injured list. Even promising Emmet Sheehan, who threw six perfect innings with 13 strikeouts recently, cannot return until July 4 due to the 10-day rule after being optioned — unless another pitcher is placed on the injured list.
This reality puts enormous pressure on healthy starters while the organization hopes for better news from their injured stars or outside help before the trade deadline.