Dodgers' predictable Tyler Glasnow move gives LA time to weigh pitching decisions

It's another pitching injury for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who dealt with the most in the league last year. This time, Tyler Glasnow, the oft-injured right-hander, left Wednesday's game with lower back spasms.

After manager Dave Roberts suggested Glasnow wouldn't require an IL stint, the Dodgers reversed course rather quickly. The star pitcher was placed on the IL before Friday's series opener against the Atlanta Braves.

There's good news, though. The expectation is that Glasnow will only miss the minimum 10 days. Nobody's going to argue with them being cautious and making sure one of the best pitchers in the league is healthy for the long haul, but Dodgers fans certainly wish different language would be used upon delivering the initial news.

It feels easy to say "we're going to wait and see how Tyler responds before determining if an IL stint is needed" rather than "we're confident he's going to avoid an IL stint", especially when it's so early in the information gathering process.

But this is a habit for Roberts and the Dodgers. They jump the gun too quickly and then get humbled by the reality.

Tyler Glasnow injury saves roster spot for Dodgers' young starter

Glasnow missing the minimum actually feels genuine because he's dealt with lower back issues the past two seasons that yielded similar results. He missed only 10 days in 2024 and was skipped through the rotation just once last year.

With Blake Snell returning Saturday, it's hardly a loss for the Dodgers. They'll just swap star arms for the time being while Emmet Sheehan gets another turn through and avoids an option to Triple-A OKC. The young right-hander helped LA defeat the Braves on Friday night after allowing just one run on six hits and a walk across 4 1/3 innings. He struck out seven, but had to be taken out due to an elevated pitch count (88) and trouble on the bases with Matt Olson coming to the plate.

It's been speculated Sheehan would be the roster casualty upon Snell's return because we know they aren't going to put their foot down with Roki Sasaki. Or ... will they? Could this next turn or two through the rotation convince them they need to act with more urgency?

Sasaki's scheduled start for this weekend was pushed back once we learned of Snell's activation. That will have him avoid the Braves and instead face the anemic rival Giants (or the Angels after SF depending on what they decide), which very much feels like a move to help Sasaki's case. The right-hander has a 5.97 ERA, 6.83 FIP and 1.67 WHIP. Sheehan's 4.79 ERA, 3.83 FIP and 1.35 WHIP, while not great, look like a godsend compared to Sasaki's production.

Given Sheehan's solid outing vs the Braves and upcoming start against the Giants, is there any way he can shift the viewpoint of the front office? It's unlikely, but if Sasaki blows up and the fanbase gets louder, you just never know.

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