Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
Tyler Glasnow provided another quality start to help the Los Angeles Dodgers earn a 3-0 victory and series win over the Kansas City Royals on Father’s Day.
The right-hander allowed just three hits and collected nine strikeouts over seven scoreless innings on just 85 pitches. The efficient outing came one day after the Dodgers bullpen had to cover seven innings after Yoshinobu Yamamoto was removed from his start due to right triceps tightness.
“I definitely kind of knew I had to be efficient just trying to fill up the zone,” Glasnow said after the game. “Glad I could keep my pitch count low and just stay throughout the course of the game, get seven innings.”
Glasnow focused on mixing in more of his pitches and not being fastball heavy. “Just tried to get ahead and mix up my pitches a bit more, not be so heavily reliant on the fastball, mix in the two-seam, and it worked out today,” Glasnow said.
Glasnow has begun to throw a two-seam fastball in addition to a four-seam heater that he believes is keeping opposing batters off balance. “Yeah, I think it’s just like such a vertical approach. It’s basically just a heater, so it’s not like you have to learn a new pitch,” Glasnow explained.
“I think it gets me behind my four-seam too. So it keeps guys left-right, while also being up and down, but it kind of fixes all my other pitches as well.
“I’ve just been a lot more comfortable throwing it up and in to righties, and today to a lefty. I’m just trying to mix it in a little bit more to try and not be so predictable.”
In addition, Glasnow also made an adjustment with his curveball, which has been one of his best pitches during his career.
“I’ve been able to land it for strikes the last couple of starts,” Glasnow said. “I’ve made mechanical adjustments to try and keep it in the zone as opposed to always trying to strike guys out with it. But yeah, I’m just trying to have another option I can throw for strikes.”
Glasnow felt he could have thrown another inning but understands why the Dodgers are being cautious with him. “I think anytime you’re pitching, anytime you’re starting, you want to pitch as long as you can,” he began.
“Everyone probably wants to throw 130 pitches, but I think it’s more about managing yourself against yourself. So whatever he wants to do, I trust him and it’s his say.”
Tyler Glasnow feels ‘pretty good’ health wise
Glasnow is now up to 93 innings and 15 starts this season, which are the most for any National League pitcher. The 30-year-old is well on pace to surpass his career high of 120 innings and 21 starts he made last year as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays.
“As far as lengthwise, I’ve had more innings and starts last year, but I’ve been feeling pretty good this year and I’m just trying to keep it going from start to start to start,” Glasnow said.
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