One adjustment could be key to Glasnow staying healthy

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The changes are subtle, but Tyler Glasnow is hoping that some offseason tweaks to his delivery will help him achieve sustainable success in his second season with the Dodgers.

At the same time, it's all about striking the right balance for Glasnow, something that he's made strides toward this spring.

"I think he gets too mechanical at times and [doesn't] let his natural athleticism, ability and compete drive his outing," manager Dave Roberts said before Saturday's 5-2 loss to the White Sox. "And I think this spring, that's where he's been. … He's freed himself up a lot more this spring."

Expectations are sky-high for this year's Dodgers rotation, whose locks to open the season include Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki and Glasnow. The level of talent among those four starters -- and the depth beyond them -- is such that in a best-case scenario, this Dodgers rotation could go down as one of the greatest in baseball history.

That would rely on everyone staying healthy, which is never a guarantee.

When the Dodgers traded for -- and extended -- Glasnow ahead of the 2024 season, they were aware of the questions surrounding his durability. He took on the heaviest workload of his Major League career in terms of games started (22) and innings (134) in his first season with Los Angeles, but even then, his year came to a premature conclusion due to right elbow tendinitis.

Before Glasnow's season ended, he played a key role in anchoring an injury-ravaged Dodgers rotation, even though he didn't throw a pitch in the postseason. He and the Dodgers are working to ensure that he can be healthy and effective throughout the season -- and ideally, through another deep playoff run.

"I think he’s frustrated at the way it ended last year, more so because he wanted to be on the field and [help] us compete and win games," pitching coach Mark Prior said earlier this spring. "Let’s not kid ourselves -- he helped us win a lot of games through the course of the season. … I think coming into this year, there was a fresh perspective."

This past offseason, Glasnow consulted several biomechanical specialists, some with the Dodgers and others outside the organization, and determined that he needed to correct his spine angle.

When Glasnow is mindful of his spine angle, it prevents him from "flying open" and putting additional stress on his elbow. He describes it as a healthier way of getting extension in his delivery -- and his is already elite at an average of 7.5 feet, ranking in the 99th percentile among qualified Major Leaguers in 2024.

Unlike some adjustments, which can require more of an overhaul, this tweak has not been difficult for Glasnow to implement.

"I feel like I'm not even doing it," Glasnow said. "Then I go look at video, and it's good. It's not perfect, but it's different enough. It's not a huge adjustment to where it's easy to see on film anyway, but I feel better."

Last season, Glasnow's arm was not recovering well after starts. He went on the injured list in mid-August with right elbow discomfort, but things got to a heightened point of concern in September. Glasnow had been working toward rejoining the Dodgers but was instead shut down for the season.

"After starts, and actually sometimes during starts," Roberts said, "he just didn't feel comfortable with his arm. … Right now, it's really free and easy."

After being able to rest his arm and work toward a potential solution in the offseason, Glasnow feels good in terms of health. He has at least one more start ahead of him -- which will come in one of the Dodgers' exhibition games in Japan ahead of the Tokyo Series -- before taking the ball in the regular season.

With three spring starts under his belt, Glasnow has found that his offseason work seems to be having the intended effect in a small sample.

"I think I recover better," Glasnow said. "It's still early; it's hard to say. But I do feel good."