Even though the Los Angeles Dodgers have the second-best record in baseball, this summer has seemed like a slog to get through. It hasn’t quite felt like the big bully of a team other fans and talking heads like to complain about.
At least from the rotation part, the band is (almost) finally getting back together. On Tuesday, Tyler Glasnow will rejoin the rotation after being on the IL for over 3 months dealing with back issues. The Dodgers have been without their entire original starting rotation for all of
the summer, and now, they also have Tarik Skubal.
Shohei Ohtani is slated to return on September 1st.
Doug Padilla of the OC Register covers the state of the Dodgers rotation going into the playoffs.
“We feel good about it,” Manager Dave Roberts said in the most understated of ways. “I’m excited to see Tyler back. I know he has missed competing, worked hard to get healthy, got his pitch count up and is now finally ready to participate. It’s going to be a fun series against the Braves. It will be good to get Tyler back in the mix.”
With Glasnow, and soon Ohtani returning, there will need to be some shuffling of the rotation. Justin Wrobleski went on the IL last week, and Eric Lauer has been moved to the bullpen.
When Ohtani returns, they are going to slow play him as they have done in the past. The team is moving Lauer to a “piggyback” role, and he will most likely be following Ohtani as the hope is to have Ohtani back to five innings by time the playoffs roll around.
Overall, it’s an exciting time for those who enjoy watching their team at full strength. Not just for the fans, but for the players themselves.
“Glasnow on Tuesday and then Sho’s working his way back,” Snell said. “I mean, yeah, it’s going to be a lot of good competition within the starting rotation. I’m really excited about it.
“Being able to watch some of the best pitchers in the game and learn from them – their mentality, the way they attack – having those conversations are very big. I’m definitely grateful to be on the same team but a lot to learn.”
