Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
The Los Angeles Dodgers have maintained hope, if not varying levels of optimism, that both Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw would recover from respective injuries in time to pitch again this year.
Glasnow was placed on the 15-day injured list because of right elbow tendinitis on Aug. 16, and there initially was an expectation he would miss just the minimum amount of time. However, the recovery process was slower than anticipated before Glasnow began to make steady progress over the past two weeks.
That led to a simulated game being scheduled Friday, which potentially was going to be the final hurdle for the right-hander to clear before returning to the Dodgers rotation. But Glasnow was scratched from facing batters at Truist Park because of more elbow discomfort.
Despite the setback, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the team received encouraging news from Glasnow’s MRI results, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic:
“I think they’re pretty promising talking to Thomas (Albert) our head trainer,” Roberts said regarding Glasnow’s evaluations.”I don’t know exactly what went into it, but he seemed pretty pleased as far as the results of the scan didn’t show anything, which is a good thing.”
The Dodgers are not yet certain when Glasnow will be able to move forward with a simulated game, or potentially playing catch on flat ground or a bullpen session.
Glasnow’s latest nevertheless setback casts some doubt on the likelihood he is able to return and fully stretch out as a starter before the postseason begins.
What if Tyler Glasnow doesn’t return?
If the Dodgers are forced to navigate October without Glasnow, it would place more pressure on Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Jack Flaherty to lead the rotation.
It also would leave the Dodgers needing to find a replacement, which could prove problematic given Gavin Stone and Kershaw are both on the injured list, and the likes of Walker Buehler and Bobby Miller have struggled.
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