The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Texas Rangers in the series rubber match on Sunday, but it came with the loss of Tyler Glasnow to an early exit.
The right-hander completed four scoreless innings before being removed from his start due to lower leg cramps. He was initially checked on by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and head athletic trainer Thomas Albert after getting back-to-back strikeouts in the fourth inning, but stayed in the game.
After throwing a 93.7 mph fastball to begin the fifth, Austin Barnes, Roberts, Albert and Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior went out to the mound for another visit. That instance ended with Glasnow walking off the field with a noticeable limp.
Cramping is something Glasnow has dealt with in his career, but he’s unsure why the continue to pop up from time to time, via Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic:
“It happens sporadically,” Glasnow said. “It’s not like a fatigue thing. I’ve tested the hydration. I’m not really sure why it keeps happening. It hasn’t happened in a while. … After a while, it just gets to the point where it’s fully locked up. I’m not sure why.”
Glasnow has dealt with injury issues throughout his career that has limited him to just 676.2 innings since 2016. He set a career high in innings last season with 134, but still saw his season cut short because of right elbow tendinitis.
The 31-year-old spent the offseason working on mechanical adjustments and changes to his training program that he hoped would lead to better health. The Dodgers and Glasnow were encouraged by the early return on the changes, but due to various circumstances, he has yet to pitch much this season.
Glasnow has started four games but thrown just 17 innings, which included being limited — and affected — by rainy weather against the Philadelphia Phillies on April 6 and his cramps on April 20.
Will Tyler Glasnow make his next start?
The Dodgers are hopeful that Glasnow’s cramping issues are a one-time occurrences and not something they’ll need to worry about much moving forward.
Glasnow is scheduled to make his next start on Sunday at Dodger Stadium, and those plans have not changed at the moment, Roberts said.
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