Dodgers World Series hopes take another massive hit with concerning Tyler Glasnow injury

As the National League West Division race tightens, the Los Angeles Dodgers have lost yet another starter to injury.

Just 10 minutes before first pitch of Friday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Dodgers announced that right-hander Tyler Glasnow had been placed on the Injured List for the second time this season.

Glasnow, who is dealing with elbow tendinitis, has been the ace of the Dodgers rotation this season. He has recorded a 3.49 ERA, 2.63 xERA and 2.91 FIP with a 0.95 WHIP in 134 innings, which set a new career high by 14 after throwing 120 last year. He has also struck out 32.2% of hitters he's faced this season while walking just 6.7%.

Rookie left-hander Justin Wrobleski was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to make his fifth career MLB start Friday, leaving southpaw Bobby Miller as the likely option to replace the injured Glasnow in Saturday's start. Wrobleski allowed four runs and four hits – including three home runs – in five innings, but a five-run sixth inning for the Dodgers' batting lineup helped propel the rookie to his first major-league win. Miller has been optional assignment since right before the All-Star Break but is traveling with the MLB club on the taxi squad.

With Glasnow landing on IL, Dodgers' injury woes continue at an alarming rate

Despite being ravaged by the injury bug this season, the Dodgers are still clinging to a narrow, three-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West.

Three different Dodgers pitchers – Emmet Sheehan, Kyle Hurt and River Ryan – have undergone season-ending Tommy John surgery this season. Pitching prospect Nick Frasso had season-ending labrum surgery, and Tony Gonsolin had already been ruled out for the season after his elbow surgery last year. Dustin May was slated to return from elbow surgery himself, but his season ended abruptly when he had emergency surgery for a torn esophagus.

Those are just over half of the 11 different Dodgers starting pitchers to hit the injured list this season. Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw have also missed time, as has Miller. It's unclear exactly how long Glasnow will be out, but losing him for any amount of time is a major blow for the Dodgers.

Glasnow was expected to be at the front of the Dodgers' postseason rotation, but now his availability is a massive question mark looming over the remaining stretch of the season. In order for the Dodgers to keep the NL West crown out of reach of the surging Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres, they will have to hope that trade deadline acquisition Jack Flaherty can keep pitching well and that Kershaw will return to his pre-surgery form sooner rather than later.

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