The Los Angeles Dodgers have their work cut out for them against the Tampa Bay Rays this weekend, and that challenge is going to become even more difficult as Tyler Glasnow is returning from the 15-day injured list to start on Saturday.
Glasnow has yet to pitch this season due to an oblique injury, and he has struggled to remain healthy in years past as well. But when he is on the mound, the right-hander is one of the most talented pitchers in baseball.
The 29-year-old has surpassed 100 innings pitched just once in his seven years, which came during the 2018 season when he threw 111.2 in 45 games (11 starts).
Glasnow owns a career 4.00 ERA across 409.2 innings, but since he was traded to the Rays from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2018, he has been far more effective, posting a 3.05 ERA across 268.1 innings.
The Newhall, California native has posted ERAs below 3.00 in three of his four seasons with the Rays, including an ERA below 2.00 twice. However, it needs to be taken with a grain of salt as the 88 innings Glasnow pitched in 2021 is the most he’s thrown with the Rays in a single season.
Still, he has proven to be tough to hit and limits free passes with 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings and 2.8 walks per nine with Tampa Bay.
Glasnow has faced the Dodgers three times in his career, but all of those came during the 2018 season as a reliever while he was still with the Pirates. In four innings, Glasnow allowed six runs on five hits with five strikeouts and four walks.
He additionally faced the Dodgers twice during the 2020 World Series, losing both starts. Glasnow pitched 9.1 total innings during the Fall Classic, giving up 10 runs on nine hits with 15 strikeouts and nine walks.
Clayton Kershaw returns to face Tyler Glasnow
The Dodgers will have Clayton Kershaw on the mound to face Glasnow in what will be his first start since being placed on the bereavement list Monday.
Kershaw was activated on Friday and Tayler Scott was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City as the corresponding roster move.
Prior to taking the leave, Kershaw labored through two consecutive short starts. He threw just four innings against the Minnesota Twins and followed that with only pitching 3.2 innings in a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Still, Kershaw is 6-4 with a 2.98 ERA, 3.29 FIP, 1.10 WHIP and has 69 strikeouts in 57.1 innings pitched across 10 starts.
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