Dodgers’ Tyler Glasnow Hasn’t Been Cleared to Throw Off Mound Yet With Time Running Out

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow has yet to get clearance to throw off the mound. Instead, Glasnow played catch out to 120 feet on Monday, and likely will throw off the mound of Friday or Saturday, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. Glasnow also played catch on Saturday.

Glasnow was placed on the injured list on Aug. 16 due to elbow tendinitis, and last pitched for the team on Aug. 11 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. In that start, Glasnow pitched seven innings and allowed five hits, two earned runs, walked one, and struck out four.

Glasnow and the Dodgers remain “hopeful” that their ace will return to the team in September before the postseason. Over the weekend, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated that the “best case scenario” would be for Glasnow to return in the middle of the month. Glasnow has added that he believes he can be back this month.

The 31-year-old, who signed to a five-year, $136.5 million contract with the Dodgers after he was traded to the team from the Tampa Bay Rays last offseason, is in the midst of his first All-Star campaign. Glasnow is 9-6 with a 3.49 ERA and a career-high 168 strikeouts, but injuries have derailed the second half of the season.

Glasnow previously went on the IL in July due to a back issue that caused him to miss multiple weeks. He has now missed multiple weeks again.

The Dodgers also lost starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who left Friday’s start after less than two innings due to a bone spur in his left toe. Kershaw, who missed the beginning of the season after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, has also landed on the IL.

With Glasnow, Kershaw, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto still out, the Dodgers’ rotation looks bleak heading into the postseason. Even if all three get healthy and return this month, will they have enough time to be ready for postseason pitching? The end of the regular season is less than just four weeks away.