Tyler Glasnow’s path back to the Dodgers is moving, but it’s moving at a crawl compared with Blake Snell’s.
Both starters have spent most of the season on the shelf, yet the gap in their recoveries is starting to show. Snell, who opened the year on the injured list after offseason surgery to address shoulder fatigue from the playoffs, has already returned for one game before being shut down again with loose bodies in his elbow. After surgery in mid-May, he’s now back into a throwing program and is still expected to come back sometime after the All-Star break.
Glasnow’s situation is far less advanced. He began the season in the rotation, then exited an early-May start against the Houston Astros because of back spasms. The Dodgers initially believed it was a minor issue, but the setbacks have piled up, and he remains nowhere near a return.
Manager Dave Roberts laid out where both pitchers stand over the weekend.
"Snell feels good, came out of his session. He should throw another one this weekend, a live. I think that's what I understand; it's either a live or a bullpen this weekend," Roberts said.
"Tyler has just continued his progression, but really nothing more than kind of playing catch right now as far as lengthening out the distance."
That’s the key difference. Snell is already working toward facing hitters, with a rehab assignment and then a return next on the checklist. Glasnow still hasn’t reached the mound yet, which means he’s still a step behind before he can even think about that next phase.
The Dodgers have been dealing with a frustrating version of Glasnow’s back issue for months, and his 6-foot-8 frame only adds more stress every time he throws. The result has been repeated shutdowns and a recovery that has dragged on far longer than anyone expected.
Roberts said recently, “I think with the spasms that kind of pop up, we don’t know [if he won't suffer another setback]," but he added, "But I think we’re being very cautious right now. He’s throwing, so the progression has started. Certainly, where we’re at in July, you don’t want any other setbacks with where we’re at in the calendar.”
At this point, Glasnow is not expected back until August at the earliest, and that assumes nothing else interrupts the process. That would leave him with less than two months to get himself ready for the postseason.
He may want to be out there now, but Glasnow knows the real target is October, and he wants to be fully prepared for the Dodgers’ push to three-peat.
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