Dodgers’ Dave Roberts Reveals Concern Level With Tyler Glasnow’s Back Injury
Many fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers were pleasantly surprised on Friday when it was announced that superstar Shohei Ohtani would take the mound against the Baltimore Orioles.
After Ohtani wasn’t feeling well enough to pitch on Wednesday, and right-hander Emmet Sheehan took the hill, it seemed that Ohtani wouldn’t be throwing for another few days, but manager Dave Roberts revealed that Tyler Glasnow was dealing with back tightness and had to be scratched. The three-time MVP tossed five strikeouts over 3.2 innings, allowing three hits, a walk, and no earned runs.
Roberts spoke on the injury his pitcher was going through ahead of the game, and the decision to start the future Hall of Famer over Glasnow.
“Coming into [Friday], early this afternoon, Tyler reported having back tightness,” Roberts said. “To not kind of tempt fate we just figured with back tightness and with the back – the hope is we push him back a few days and he can make a start early next week. We just didn’t want to put him in harm’s way. And Shohei was up to it, feels good physically and want[ed] the ball tonight.”
Ahead of Glasnow’s first-career All-Star selection last year, and throwing a 3.47 ERA across his first 18 starts in a Dodgers uniform, he was shelved on the injured list with lower back tightness. It was just about two weeks on the injured list for the right-hander, but at this point in the season, it isn’t worth risking the health of a key rotational arm.
“I think it’s more just trusting the player, knowing that he wants to be out there, feeling like we got ahead of it early. And it’s not something where we got to the point where he’s hurt or anything like that. It’s back stiffness. So we feel that to not take this start will allow him to be able to start hopefully early next week.”
Roberts revealed the plan is for the right-hander to start during the Dodgers’ upcoming series against the Colorado Rockies, which is certainly good news for a starting rotation that’s dealt with injuries for much of the season.
Glasnow has a 3.02 ERA since returning from his most recent IL stint (that sidelined him for a little over two months), but has given up three earned runs in his last two outings. Perhaps giving him the extra rest to start September will translate to better results in October.
Red Sox’ Aroldis Chapman on 3rd-longest streak of hitless domination since 1901
Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman has been unstoppable on the mound against the Diamondbacks. His dominance is giving the Red Sox a crucial edge as the postseason race heats up. Aroldis Chapman’s hitless streak has now reached 17 straight appearances without allowing a hit. This marks one of the most remarkable pitching runs in recent MLB history.
Chapman’s hitless streak has also stretched to 14⅔ innings, dating back to July 26, and it now ranks as the third-longest since 1901. Only Randy Choate’s 20 straight appearances in 2011 and Tim Byrdak’s 18 consecutive outings in 2012 stand ahead of him.
As a result, Aroldis Chapman’s resurgence has been vital for the Red Sox bullpen. His command and velocity have returned to elite form, and his presence has transformed the dynamic of late-inning situations. Because of this, Boston can now rely on him to shut down opposing lineups when it matters most. Against teams like the Diamondbacks and other playoff contenders, his consistency has given the Red Sox the upper hand in tight games.
Furthermore, this run highlights Chapman’s ability to adapt. Known throughout his career for overpowering hitters, he has now added sharper pitch sequencing and better movement to his arsenal. Consequently, hitters are struggling to pick up his slider after seeing a triple-digit fastball, creating a nearly unhittable combination. With each outing, his confidence grows, and so does the team’s trust in him to deliver in critical spots.
Ultimately, the Red Sox remain locked in a fierce battle for postseason positioning, and Chapman’s dominance has provided a much-needed boost. If he maintains this pace, his historic run could play a pivotal role in Boston’s playoff push. For now, every appearance by Chapman feels like must-watch baseball. The only question left: how long can Aroldis Chapman keep this hitless streak alive and cement his place in MLB history?
And more importantly, can the Red Sox ride his dominance all the way into the postseason?
