The Los Angeles Dodgers have been dealt brutal blows one after another, and at a certain point, it becomes too much to take.
That was certainly the case for ace pitcher Tyler Glasnow, who suffered a reported injury setback on Saturday while attempting to rehab elbow tendinitis that had kept him out for most of the second half.
Manager Dave Roberts said in the aftermath of the setback, which occurred while Glasnow was warming up to pitch a simulated game, that the righty flamethrower was "highly unlikely" to pitch again this season.
Things took a bizarre turn on Monday, though, when reports surfaced that the Dodgers were unsure of Glasnow's whereabouts. Roberts was quoted in the Orange County Register on Sunday, saying Glasnow had left the team during the road trip to Atlanta.
“I don’t know where he flew to,” Roberts said. “But he’s not with the team, no.”
Dodgers reporter Juan Toribio of MLB.com expanded on Roberts' report on Monday, saying no one with the team was happy with Glasnow's absence, but it was understandable given the circumstances.
Roberts later clarified on Monday evening that he knew where Glasnow was, and emphasized that the absence was excused, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.
There's nothing more painful for a high-level competitor than being unable to play in the postseason, and Glasnow has had a series of extended absences in his career. 2024 was the first time he'd ever thrown more than 120 innings in a season, in addition to his first All-Star appearance.
The Dodgers still have plenty of talented arms (see: Yoshinobu Yamamoto), but going into October without their expected ace will be devastating. As for Glasnow, it seems he's taking the time he needs to deal with the pain of the news on his own terms.
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